Emotions

Oh wonderful Family,

Yes. It rains a lot. But apparently it is only during a three month span. Yesterday, it started pouring on our way to church. I had just read the talk from General Conference about the optimistic roommate and so I started singing "Oh What a Beautiful Morning!" and laughed at myself because there was no one else that could understand why that song was funny. Laughing is important (see Come What May by ...Elder Wirthlin?).

If I don´t speak people think I am from Southern Brazil. There are a lot more white people in southern Brazil. Here it is pretty rare to see a white woman. White middle aged men is a little more common. 

My normal day. Each day is very different. Sometimes we have so many lessons that we practically run to each one and other days each appointment caiou - "falls", I don´t remember the proper English term for this. I will tell you a story about my week that demonstrates my normal day. One day when we didn´t have many appointments we batei portas (knock doors?) and we have only had to do this twice so it was pretty rare. The fourth door we found a 13 year old girl and we taught the first lesson. Two weeks later we are still teaching her and we met four girls on the same street who are all cousins and friends with the first girl Carina. We find people through other people. You kind of just stumble upon them. It is so sad however when they decide not to continue taking lessons. It is devastating. Because you love them and you know God loves them but they always have the choice. 

For the English class I just had basic conversations with the people that are a little more advanced. It went well And I liked it a lot. I was so tempted to teach them y'all but I wasn´t the main teacher so  I didn´t. 

Oh the food. Seriously, amazing. The other day a member fed us the best potatoes I have ever tasted. Ever. They also always have really good juices and dolces. In casa nos cook eggs (yes I like eggs now) and bread! Always fresh. More rice. A lot of fruit. Last week I had a burger!

I can send pictures. It is hard timewise but next week I promise to send some pictures. 

Emma, I am sorry about the scratch on your face and hope it heals. Alyssa, I am proud of you for reading Pride and Prejudice! Stick with it girl! Garrett, how tall are you? 

I have officially been in Brazil for a month. This place feels like I have always been here (until I remember something like Oklahoma the musical and can´t describe it to my companion.) It is hard but I love ever minute of it. The sprirt makes all the difference in a lesson. Thursday we taught two first lessons back to back to two girls that are friends and around the same age. The first lesson was a struggle and there were a lot of distractions (Matilda was on) and it was very difficult to focus. The spirit was not there. She did not accept batismal marcada. The second lesson just ten minutes later was very different. Less distractions. More focus. The Spirit was there. She practically jumped at the chance to be baptized. After the lesson, Sister Moraes commented on how my Portuguese was amazing during the lesson - all because of the Spirit. 

I love you very much and hope that each day you feel the Spirit in your lives.  President Monson said that missions were family affairs and I hope your side is going well! 

Love,

Sister Martin

Support

Dear loving family,

Playing the piano was just about the scariest thing I have ever done. But I did it and the ward chorister was excited. I messed up a lot and the G key doesn´t work which makes it a little difficult and I felt good about it afterward. Until one of the young men got up and played after the meeting. He was great! But he refuses to play in sacrament meeting.

Thursday night I performed another sort of duty to support the ward. Actually another ward. There are two wards that meet in our building. The other ward was having a talent show. Do you know the cup song? Anyway Sister Moraes and I and two girls from our ward performed it (with the Presidents permission of course). It was really fun and embarrassing. It was great. The show started with practically no one here but by half way through more people were there than normally go to church it was crazy and so much fun. I think the members really enjoyed it and there were several investigators there as well. The Elders in the other ward were pleased.

Oh! This Thursday I get to help teach English! The Elders have an English class and want my help. I am so excited because a lot of people here want to learn and I actually know how to speak it! Sort of. The other day a recent convert wanted to hear me pray in English. So I did. It was my first time to pray out loud in English in two months. It was surprisingly difficult. 

Funny story for the week:

In the MTC, we were told that people were going to flirt with us and hit on us but to just try to ignore it or walk away. I was in the church building and people from the other ward were there as well. We are getting ready to leave when a guy from the other ward starts talking to me. Usually I can understand what people say or get the gist at least but sometimes I still don´t understand a word. This time I had no idea what he was saying so I just nodded and smiled and my companion pulled me away. Once outside, She started laughing really hard and explained to me that he was hitting on me. Oops. It is pretty funny and embarrassing as well. But I am rare here. I think I have seen one other white person. But I am not white now and yes I do have some crazy tan lines. My favorite is actually my watch tan line.

People here live in "houses" They are actually really hard to describe but basically long thin open spaces. There are no spaces in between houses and each house usually has quite a few people in it. It is very difficult to try to guess familial relations because everyone lives together! It is crowded but people are generally happy and love living together. The city is huge and our area is more of the outskirts and residential area. We have beach! I caught a glimpse again this week and it made me happy. I have no idea what the temperature is here but it isn´t too bad. The other day it was really windy and almost cold. It felt really good.

I hope I answered all your questions. If not, sorry. Ask again because I get confused.

This week with investigators was incredible. I don´t know if it is because I can understand more or if I am less focused on trying to understand but this week I could just feel God´s overwhelming love for each and everyone of his children. Members and investigators and people that don´t want to hear what we have to say. I love the people here for myself and I can feel God´s love for them too and it is amazing. I just want them all to be happy and to not have any problems which of course is not possible. But I can hope right?

I love you all and am so excited for you. Oh and Happy Fathers day!

Love,

Sister Martin

The Brazilian Life and Mom Was Right

Dear wonderful Family,

The work is going. We are working with several individuals that are on their way to conversion and they are simply amazing. We are putting a lot of time into working with recent converts and less actuve members. In the last three months in this ward there have been 10 convert baptisms and yesterday only one was at church. Larissa is so strong and her strength is impressive. After church we went around visiting those that didn´t go and leaving them with messages and encouragement. We are teaching a lot of people that are all in different stages of life. It is incredible to see no matter what a person´s age is or what they are going through at this moment - they all can find peace in the evangelho. 

Oh, guess who is now the ward pianist? That´s right. This missionary. I hope you get a good laugh about this. Because when I am not scared I think it is very funny. During my childhood Mom would say "you should practice because one day at church they will need someone to play the piano and you will be it". Well that day has come. It is hard because they do not have music in the schools here so no one can read music or sing really. Hymns are an interesting experience. I giggle. 

We  each have a debit card (Bank of America - isn´t that funny) and we get more money on it twice a month. We don´t have to pay for our rent - the president takes care of that - I think. 

Dad you asked if I can believe I have already been out for two months and sometimes I feel like it has only been a couple of weeks and other times it is hard to even remember that there was life before the mission. This is life. 

The language is coming. Slowly but surely. Each week I understand a little more. Some days it is almost easy to speak in Portuguese and other times it is pretty difficult but when it matters I can speak about the gospel with Heavenly Father´s help. No dreams in Portuguese yet!  Puxa vida. 

Oh interesting fact. Brazilians here - or at least my companion- put ketchup and mayonnaise on EVERY thing. Like Pizza and grilled meat and steak. But every time someone finds out that I am from America they ask three questions 1. do you like it here? 2- do you like the food? 3. Does everyone in America eat burgers for lunch each day. Food is normally on the brain. 

As President Ucthdorf says always remeber "You are important. You are loved. You are NEEDED" no matter if you are a missionary a business man, a mom, or a kid, you can do a great work. You can look around you and see those that need your help and you can offer service. You are important. 

(this made me think of the Help - You is smart, you is kind, you is important. It is true).

I love you all and thank you for your prayers

Sister Martin

Barbie

My companion is from Rio de Janeiro and doesn´t speak English, which is good else I would be tempted to speak English more. The couple times I have spoken English, it is really hard to slip back into Portuguese. which is improving and I could even understand people better this week!  Unfortunately Sister Barra left our trio and she was the one that knew the area. So spent alot of this week walking and trying to find people that we had lessons with.  But we know the area a lot better now. This week will be great.

The food here is great, but different. For every meal we have beans, rice, and noodles. Spaghetti noodles. Weird combination right? But it is really good. 

The ward is good but it is hard to get recent converts to continue to come to church. There are a lot of members who have been members their whole lives and served missions and are a strength for the new converts. 

I laugh that it is so cold in Maine! Yesterday, it got "cold" here. It actually just poured rain and there was a river in all the streets. It was pretty intense. We looked pretty funny in our skirts and rain coats and water up to mid calf. Perfect missionary weather. 

This week was kind of unusual because we had Zone conference and because I went to the police station. Zone conference is held every 3 or 4 months and it lasted all day and I didn´t understand most of what was said but we were well fed and I met people that spoke English! which is kind of a rarity. It was funny because I have never seen sisters so dressed up. Zone conference is like prom for the sisters. Just minus the dancing part. On Thursday I went to the police station to be registered as an American that is certified to be here in Maceio and got to see Sister Smith! aka my first companion in the MTC. It was so good to talk to her and actually be able to tell stories about people we both know and be able to understand each other. It was fun but it was nice to go back to my companion and speak in Portuguese again. 

Last week we were stopped in the street by a woman and she asked us to come back later and teach her. We were amazed and so excited. Yes! she wants to be taught! baptism! But when we got to her house later in the week, it turned out to be the weirdest lesson ever. Apparently, she already knew lots of stuff and just wanted to ask all these weird and unnecessary questions but we tried to answer them the best we could. The part that was really odd was that she kept touching my skirt, saying it was beautiful, and calling me Barbie. I might be the first white person she has ever seen. 

I loved to hear how everything is going and hope you are all doing well. I love you so much!

Love 

Sister Martin

Made it to Brazil!

Diana was all set to go to Saint George, Utah on Wednesday May 15th.  On Tuesday, she was called in to the travel office at the MTC and told that her visa had come through!  She was one of only 4 out of her district of 100 missionaries to get her visa.  She traveled alone to Brazil and arrived safely on May 16th.  Her Dad and I got to speak to her for 45 minutes each while she was at the airport.  It was a wonderful phone call and she sounded so happy and upbeat!

I am in Brazil. If I ever forget that I just try to say something and then realize I can´t haha. Basically I have a constant "that´s not the language they taught me in the MTC" moment. I don´t understand anyone unless they speak so incredibly slow and only say three words and even then it is iffy. When ever I speak people look at me and smile and nod encouragingly. I like it and it makes me giggle. 

This week has been crazy from packing for St. George and then finding out that I´m going to Brazil and then traveling for 30 hours by myself and not knowing what to do to meeting my mission president (he is awesome!) to teaching Brazilians to baptism. 

Oh yeah Baptism. Jackson was baptized on Saturday! Of course I didn´t do much in the process but it was still awesome. I had no idea that baptisms were so common here. My mom and trainer, Sister Moraes has been on the mission for 6 months and has helped baptize 25 people. I was blown away but it happens. Since I can´t understand, I have´t done much conversing with investigators. Mostly just bearing my testimony which is awesome but short. Yesterday I actually got to help teach a new investigator named Marcelo. It was incredible and after one lesson he said he would be baptized.

I am in the actual city of Maceio. It is full of color, people, and bad smells. I love it. We are packed in pretty tight but our area is pretty big. It is called Pajuçara. The ward is decent sized but very different. Life here is different and amazing. The food is great. We get fed by members for lunch every day and it is always a lot of food.

I am very fortunate as well. Our apartment has air conditioning in the room we sleep in. Apparently it is the only one in the mission. It is amazing. I am good and well despite the fact that I look diseased because I am red and splotchy from bug bites. The missionaries here have a lot of loyalty for their mission. Maceio is the best mission in the world and we even have our own song. It is cool.

So basically, things are hard. It is difficult but that is ok because Heavenly Father put me here and He helps me through it. It is ok because seeing someone hear about the gospel and change their lives and influence the lives around them brings so much joy that the rest doesn´t matter. When I put my trust in the Lord, things aren´t easier necessarily, but I am so much more capable to handle life and be joyful. 

I love you all and hope all is well. 

Diana

People can´t pronounce my name. It is funny. Sister mar.... are you latina? haha

Reassignment (temporary) and a missed phone call

Lesley spotted Sister Martin (aka Diana) outside the Provo temple

May 10

Minha Familia para sempre (My forever family),

This has been one crazy week. It has been one giant roller coaster. There was a huge scare that I would not get re-assigned with the rest of my district and would have to stay in the MTC for another week or two without them. Thank goodness that didn't happen! Close call though. I was the last to get my re-assignment and I was very nervous until I got it. As you know, I got re-assigned to the St. George Utah mission! It is a massive mission that covers half of Utah and a part of Arizona and has two temples in it. I will be speaking English and I have no idea how long I will be serving there. It will be hard to keep up my Portuguese when I will be studying it by myself and not really speaking it but I will try. I am just so excited to get out and serve!! One other girl from my district is also going to St. George. Everyone else is going to  Tallahassee, Santa Rosa, San Bernadino, and Roseville (I told him to look out for some Mullens)! I'm a little sad we are all splitting up. My district feels almost like family now. I'm sorry I didn't call your cell phones. I only had one five minute call and Alyssa answered the home phone. I will call from the airport probably around 7 am Provo time! I will start with your cell mom! I love you and Happy Mothers Day!

Besides all the visa and re-assignment drama, this week has been amazing. On Wednesday, my district got to be hosts for all the new missionaries coming in! It was so cool to see all the new incoming missionaries and help them get settled in, despite the pouring rain. Seeing how nervous and new they were just reminded me how much I have changed and grown and learned in the past month and a half. It really is extraordinary. I teach 40 minute lessons in Portuguese without notes. It doesn't seem miraculous until I think about where I was 5 weeks ago. Oh! Last week we got to teach an entire family for TRC. The mom was from Portugal and the rest learn Portuguese from her so It was a little hard to understand them because they talk fast and pronounce things so differently but it was a great experience. It reminded me of why I came out, well one reason, to strengthen families! They were great.

Do you remember the shoes I brought? They kinda had a weird design with holes on the top? They make for interesting shoe tan lines... haha

Yesterday we had an all day "In-field" training day. We spent all day with the missionaries that are going out into the field next week going through an intense this is what to expect out there learning experience type thing. For y'all that watched the District with me, remember that one elder that was blonde named Elder Christenson? Yeah He was my teacher yesterday! It is so funny because here at the MTC we ALL know who he is and he is like a celebrity. A missionary celebrity. He was a great teacher. He gave great advice and was really funny.

On Sunday, Chad Lewis, a former BYU and then NFL football player came to talk to us. He said something that really struck me. He said "It is ok to cry. Just don't give up" The mission is hard and we (I) want to be cheerful and happy but sometimes it is beyond hard to keep that smile on my face. So I learned it is ok to cry or have an unhappy moment. Have that cry or that mini tantrum then get right back out there and keep doing your best. It reminded me of the talk "Come what May and love it" (Thank you, Chris Mullen - those talks have been amazing. Half my district is getting copies of "His Grace is Sufficient because they loved it so much). You have the rough times but It will be ok. There will always be something to learn and love from that experience.

I love you all very much.

Sister Martin

Pictures from the Cooks.  They were dropping off Christina for her mission and saw Diana:

They said that when they yelled her name, she saw them and ran over to the car, said a few sentences in Portuguese, and then ran back.  I'm so happy that they saw her and took these  pictures!

May 3

Hello my dear and wonderful family,

Thank you Mullens! You really made my day. My district loved the cookies and the bread is a life saver. It is amazing. Congrats Andrea! Finally Graduated (even though you've been done for a while).

Dad, you asked where we get these investigators. Our "investigators" are actually our teachers but we treat them as if they are real investigators. It is amazing how real the situations are when you want them to be. However, when we have TRC we get to teach real members and sometimes real Brazilians. That is amazing.

This Sunday in Relief Society they announced that there were 1258 Sisters here. It is incredible to sit altogether and be an army of Sisters. It never stops blowing my mind. But then again every now and then I think to my self "I'm on a mission" and my mind explodes each time. I'm on a mission!

In my district I have become known as Mother Martin. Which makes me giggle (with quiet dignity befitting a missionary of course). Apparently I am very motherly, but maybe it just seems that way because my district is almost all Elders and they need help sometimes. With sewing or getting stains out (I might have already gone through one a half tide to go pens) or with needing lotion (its not masculine to own their own).

Christina came in on Wednesday! It sounds like the Cooks told you that they saw me but it was awesome! Wednesday was a crazy day. It started out not so good. We, as a district, tried to do a SYL day meaning we were only going to speak Portuguese. Well I think we were cranky because we hadn't gotten our P-day like normal the day before and we all realized how hard it is to communicate in Portuguese. It felt like trying to push through a brick wall. Not good. But then we got to teach our investigator, Solande. As soon as the lesson started, Portuguese just flowed and it became so easy to talk. I'm not sure if it is because I just know way more vocabulary when it comes to the Gospel or if the Spirit just helps me that much. Either way it was amazing. After the lesson it was just as hard. But we pushed forward. Then one of my companions needed to go to the BYU Health Center. Up to this point I had been looking every where for Christina but hadn't seen her. Well we were leaving the MTC fence when I heard someone yell "Diana!" and it was the Cooks! What a blessing! I haven't seen Christina since but it made me so happy and the timing was amazing! I hope to see her again soon. Any way around 3, the entire SYL thing fell apart and we spoke English. But each day we try to spend at least several hours speaking only Portuguese. It's interesting.

This week we had our last lesson with Brother Paulich. He is the teacher that we have had from the very beginning and was the one that greeted us on the first day. As a class, we had gotten really close to him and I think he felt sentimental towards us because we are his last district. For the last two hours of his last lesson, He had one person sit in the middle and the rest of the district would take a minute and say what we admire or like about the person in the middle. It was an amazing experience. Not only did I feel so much better about myself, but I came out realizing how much good is in each and every person in my district. Each one is amazing. It also reaffirmed to me how they are all children of God and are special and loved. It is amazing.

Our Heavenly Father loves you. He wants you to be happy. He put you here to SUCCEED.

I love you all.

Sister Martin

Companions

With Sister Robin Grigg (a friend from Massachusetts)

Pointing out their missions

Two weeks worth

April 23, 2013

Bom Dia!

So they were not kidding when they said change is a big part of the mission. Just a week ago (feels like a long time ago) my companion Sister Smith left for Brazil. Life as a trio has been hard and an adjustment but I like both of my companions a lot so we made it work. The second lesson we taught as a trio was amazing! All three of us got the impression to invite our investigator to be baptized and even though he said no it was so cool because we were all in sync with the Spirit and each other. It was a definite high point of happiness this week.  Another awesome thing was Elder Richard G. Scott coming and talking to us. He just lifted our spirits (almas) and let us know that it will be all right. We can do this even if it is hard. Then on Sunday BYU men's chorus came and sang to us. They touched my heart.

But more change is imminent. I might be back down to just a regular companionship tomorrow. It is unsure but we will see how it goes.

I loved Alyssa's and Emma's letters! I got a good laugh from them. Well I am just glad that my picture in the kitchen was replaced by a picture of Jesus and not something else. I am ok with being replaced by Jesus. He is my biggest support right now. I also laughed because both Alyssa and Andrea mentioned how their days are repetitive and I do the same thing literaly every day. It is kinda crazy. You also go kinda crazy sitting in a desk for 10 hours. Thank goodness for the Spirit, a fun district, and good teachers. I am learning so much and I feel like I have grown and I am so happy but I do get a little stir crazy.

This week during TRC (teaching resource center) we got to talk to these sisters that are actually from Brazil. They talked SO fast and it was hard to understand them because of it but they were also incredibly nice. They even took pictures with us and said they would add us on facebook. It was funny. But I know that when I actually get to Brazil it will be very easy to love the people. I will get my reassignment in two weeks! (I get to call home for five minutes when I get my reassignment!)

Unfortunately, we are losing both of our teachers this week. I love them both. They are truly amazing people. One got an internship and the other got reassigned to a new district. We are getting two new teachers and I am sure they are amazing people but it isn't the same. I'm just glad that we are Brother Paulich's last district and Sister Peterson's first so that we will be memorable =). We are a pretty interesting group of people if I do say so myself.

Portuguese is coming along pretty nicely. I can talk and say almost what I want to say as long as it pertains to the gospel. I don't know much besides that. Haha, teaching the law of chastity was interesting in limited Portuguese. I love being able to speak Portuguese even if it is broken. Deus...te...ama. Ele quere que voce ser limpo....

I was stunned when I heard about what happened with  the attack on the Boston Marathon. I am so grateful that Jenna and family were safe and able to stay in their apartment. I am glad that the Garlands too were kept safe and unharmed. I am praying for you and hope it is all well.

I love you

Sister Martin

April 16, 2013

Querido loved ones,

It was wonderful to hear from you! The Dear Elders throughout the week are a wonderful thing (I only get letters at night right before bed so as to not be a distraction but they are marvelous.) Yay Mary Claire! Oh I am so happy for Jenna and Chris and baby girl! Those pictures are so beautiful and so is she!

My visa stuff is all taken care of but it will still be quite a while before mine will come through but it will come eventually.

Y'all asked about my favorite General Conference talk. Well my favorite is Elder Holland (when he was announced as the next speaker a cheer went up from the missionaries). I loved what he said about first thinking about what you have and the faith you have before your limits. That is so important and something I needed to hear as I struggle through Portuguese. I also loved both of Sister Dalton's talks (we also watched the YW general conference) it was all about the impact we as daughters of God (and missionaries) can have on the lives we touch. It reminded me why I am here.

This week was harder than the first. Almost my entire district was sick, as was I. So it has been tough but we are getting through it and coming out the better for it. I now have two teachers and get to learn even more. I feel like my brain is expanding to accommodate all this new information about the gospel and the language.

This past week my companion got her visa. She is leaving today for the Brazil MTC actually. It is crazy because another person from my district got his visa as well. That is only two people. This past Wednesday 700 people entered the MTC and 120 of them were Portuguese speaking. It is insane how few have gotten visas. But anyway, I am so excited for her but this does mean I will be in a trio with the other sister companionship in my district and we have to change rooms and what not. It will be interesting to see how the dynamics change in our district. Despite only being here for two weeks we have gotten really close.

The best parts of my week are the big meetings because they have the most incredible speakers come. Last Tuesday, Elder Lund spoke (aka the guy that wrote all the books). He was a very powerful speaker and talked a lot about the mission and revelation. As missionaries, it is essential for us to have inspiration and revelation (inspirisao e revelasao) when teaching investigators but we cannot command God nor demand that He give us answers to our prayers. We have to obey His will and His time. This is something that is hard for me to do because it takes patience and trust.

On Sunday, Sister Edmunds talked to us. She has gone on four missions and was so inspiring while being so funny. This mission is not about me. This is not my time. I am here on the Lord's time. The speakers are always amazing and carry such a Spirit!

I love you all and hope all is. Boa Sorta com suas vidas!

Love

Sister Martin