Companion picture

I found this picture of Elder Martin on the mission presidents' blog. 

Week 43

WELP! I love this new district, all the Elders LOVE SPORTS! ITS WHAT I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR! We also all just really get along anyways, so that's good, oh, and I stayed in shreve.. I guess I did not make that clear last time..

 

So last week was a T-week, so KINDA slow, but not too bad, we still saw a lot of people, we went to this one ladies house, it was gross, there was a big cooking sheet FULL of cat food by her front door, and it smelled really bad, She didn't even open the outside door, and told us "Yeah, I have not been to church in a while" I asked if she knew who we were, and why we were there, new approach I'm trying :) anyway, really she has not been in YEARS! like, 10 of them, but that's ok, she didn't let us in, and I'm ok with that, cause I'm sure it would have smelled even worse in the house, so I just asked if we would see her at church soon, she said "ok" and closed the door... not really the answer I was looking for, or one at all.. But that's typical, the "Ok" answer when it should be a yes or a no.

 

We got fed a lot last week! that was a good way to introduce all the greenies, although, this week, no one is feeding us.. so that was sad.

We got a new ward mission leader, this is a good thing, the last guy tried.. but, he was busy, and.. um, this is good. The new guy's name is Ra. just Ra, he is from New Zealand, and is way cool.

 

We just randomly got our miles cut for our car.. we were expecting to have a few miles left, but now we are suddenly already over, so that's a thing, should be fun..

 

There is a member here, who LOVES the church, but hates the ward.. his words not mine. anyways, that's kinda the norm, so.. yeah, I know its not just here either, YOU IDAHO/UTAH MORMONS! we have a bad rap, and kinda for good reason, I had a lady in my ward come to me and tell me she has a good friend who not too long ago got married and moved to Nampa, she was wondering if I knew her, I told her there are 4 stakes there.. anyway, she said that this friend of hers has NO friends in her ward, and like, REALLY needs some, but no one will really talk to her, this is not the first time I have heard of this either, sooo... Y'all need to shape up and talk to all kinds of new people, talk to those that need you! Pray to know who needs a friend, and just go make friends! its really quite simple.

 

ANYHOW!

That's all I really got for this week, HOPE EVERYONE HAS A GREAT SUMMER!

 

LOVE!

Elder CamCam Martin.

Week 42

SOOO tomorrow I get a new comp, and pretty much a whole new district, should be fun..

 

ANYHOW last week went by really fast, and I really remember none of it.. and if I do remember stuff, I dont know if it was two weeks ago or last week, so I will do my best to remember some good stuff..

 

Did I ever talk about how we went to this way cool gator farm? it was awesome!

We did a lot of biking, and I mean a lot, we biked all over, every day this week we have tried to find a less active.. or as they now call them, "returning members" ... cause less active is too offensive, even though really, they are just inactive.. but what eve, anyhow that kinda went good, met a few, they were all mostly nice so that's good!

 

We did a lot of service too! so that has been fun, we did this thing called "paint your heart out" and we just went and paintedsomeones house, it was this HUGE thing the city did, and our church was like the biggest sponsor, so that was cool, later that day the city fed every one that participated, it was like this big craw fish boil thing, and I cant eat craw fish, cause they are GROSS! so that was a thing, but it was really fun!  

 

Sunday was a really good day, some really good talks, good lessons, and then a Baptism! YAY! the guys name is Mark and he is WAY cool, he was the sisters investigator, and really seems like he has been a member his whole life, great guy, it was some good times, later sunday we put on this little mission prep call thing, it was good.

 

ANYHOW!

that has been my week as far as I can remember,

LOVE!

 

Elder CamCam Martin

p.s. Anyways, our district is kind of being rebuilt, three of the 6 are leaving! My comp of course, Sister Mongie, who is probably one of the best missionaries of all time! so thats sad, and Elder Souter, who, just got here, so that was weird, anyhow, Elder Eisinger, or ICE! as we call him, is training, so I dont know his new comps name, but should be good fun, and Sister Parsons, who, JUST got here last transfer, as in, she has not even been out 2 months, is trianing! making her also one of the greatest missionaries of all time! anyhow, I am looking forward to the next few months here with all of them, should be some good missionary times!

Week 41

SO! I am told that Casey and i were more just BURDENS yesterday, just a thing that got in the way of your CAKE AND ICECREAM! well, I am SO sorry we kept you from what's really important, next time just let us know you have other things to do and we will just shoot you a text, make it quick..

 

 

ANYHOW! even though it was cut short by CAKE! we did just talk, so I really don't have much to report, but, I feel its a good time to talk about Mothers, and all the many Mothers in my life!

 

My own Mom, Who not only raised me, and brought me up in the Gospel, but was my school teacher for every year I was in school, I know, I don't know how she did it either. I love my Mother, she carried me when I was young, and pushed me when I was older, She is the reason for my high standards, and I will always be grateful for that! Her testimony is incredible, and has impacted me more then any other, She is my example of faith, and always will be, I love her with all my heart, and am so grateful she is mine.

My 3 Beautiful sisters. my three hero's, I cant say enough how much I look up to them. The oldest, The single mother of two, who found a way to raise two rowdy children, while also juggling jobs and school! But if that wasn't enough, she did it all away from her family, (even though one of her siblings tried his best to help, but really just ended up being more of a burden then any help at all) Even though she has had plenty to gripe about, she never has. I have never known her to back down from a challenge, I have never seen her give up. No matter what life throws at her, I know she will be always moving forward, with her children in her arms, loving them without end. She is my example of courage, and I know who to look to when I need some.

 

The Youngest, (youngest girl.. that is.) Also faced the trial of single parenthood, and though she did find a wonderful priesthood holder, who loves her and treats her like she should be loved and treated. (and whom I am very grateful for, and love very much) It was a mountain she still had to climb, and not her only mountain either. I have seen her climb many. I can not imagine the pain they have caused her, but I know that she endured them well, she is my example of strength, when I have a hill to climb, I look to her, and I put my best foot forward.

 

The In-Law :) She may have entered the family a little later, but you better believe she jumped right in to things, and immediately fit right in with the Martin clan! (No small task!) Her heart is big, and she will be the first to volunteer to help other mothers with there children, actually, the first to volunteer to help anyone with anything! If someone is helping, its her, and she never expects anything in return. She is my example of selflessness, when I think to my self 'how would this benefit ME!?' I think of her, shake it off and get to work.

 

There are MANY other Mothers that have touched my life, Grandmothers, Aunts, and Mothers of close friends. I am very grateful for the blessing of all of them, and I love them all, very very much, Thank you for all that you do MOMS! and happy Mothers day!

 

LOVE!

Elder CamCam Martin. 

Week 39

HELLOP!!!

 

WELL! it was another good week, kinda a slow week, my comp didn't want to get out much, he had kinda a good reason though..

ANYHOW! mostly talked to a bunch of Less actives, which is good work, and just as important, if not more, than finding new people, remember that! the people on your home teaching list, that DON'T come to church much, are the people you need to talk to the MOST! when an investigator drops us, or someone tells us.. things that are mean.. that's ok, they just don't know what they are missing, but a member, that has stopped coming, and turned away from the covenants they once made? well, to me, those are the people we try the hardest with. .. ok, here comes a home teaching/visiting teaching rant!

DO IT!!! We get calls from members every day asking us to help them with something, why? cause they don't know who their home teachers are, that is NOT ok, I have seen men GO TO WORK with home teaching, where they have 20 family's! and they see them all, every week, it's sad that we can't do 4! how hard is it to spend 10 minutes a MONTH! and 4 family's? its not! its easy, there is a member here, that wont go to church, cause he has never seen a home teacher, yeah, that's a really dumb reason, but, there is also not a single good reason he has not seen a home teacher, I am sure if you asked your bishop how many LA member there are in your word, you would be SHOCKED!  These members NEED to know, that not only do they need the church, but the church needs them, for most, all they need to know, is that they are loved, missed, and needed.  NEVER give up on anyone, there was a member in my last area, who, when I was there was the Elders quorum pres, that was VERY inactive only 2 years ago, in fact, i was looking back in that area book, and he was what we call "red listed" that means give him some space, well, turns out he had a great home teacher, but his home teacher never actually saw him, all he could do was leave him a message each month, (the first pres message) he was just leave it in his door.  Because his home teacher never gave up, he went back to church, and now is getting married in the temple. Missionary work is NOT just knocking on doors, in fact, we try not to do to much of that. "Every member a missionary"  To me, the best way for EVERY member to be a missionary, is to visit the family they have been asked to visit, and when they are done with that, go to the Elders pres, or the Bishop, and ask them what OTHER family's could use a visit, trust me, they will have someone for you.

I believe home and visiting teaching is the most importnant, and best service we as members of this church can do.

I AM ALMOST DONE WITH THIS VERY HARD TO READ RANT! one more story,

Brother Jones, he was my first convert, and he is awesome, the reason he got baptized? not the missionaries! Another awesome home teacher, Bother Jones' mom was a less active member, and her home teacher saw her every month, without fail, Brother Jones would always leave or go to another room when Brother Oaks (the home teacher) came around, till one day, he FINALLY started listening to the messages, and then agreed to meet with the missionaries, I think it took 2 meetings with the missionaries before he KNEW he needed to be baptized, 3 other baptisms came from that, and now Brother Jones is doing all kinds of home teaching. (even though he does not really have the means to do so)  And it all started with a home teacher that wouldn't give up.

 

Welp, this was different, but I have no time, so, I will end with that,

 SPREAD SOME OF THAT CAMCAMIAN AND DO SOME HOME/VISITING TEACHING!!

 

LOVE

Elder CamCam Martin!

Week 38

HI ALL!!!
So this week flew by, so don't really remember any of it, like at all, but I will try to remember all that I can.

Monday was fun, saw that city, the city is cool, we had some good times,

other stuff happened in the week, ha, like, at some point the housing people came and looked at our house, and helped us improve it, they still don't like it, and said they might move us, so thats a thing, I always get that house!

hmm, we did this cool day of service thing on... some day, it was cool, we got to wear those yellow vest and everything, it was cool, all we really did was paint though, so that was lame, but other then that good stuff, there were even some yellow vest on the news! cool stuff,

Sunday I gave a talk, 3 of us missionaries did, but was got to church late cause the other Elders slept in, so we roll in late I'm walking up to sit on the stage, and WHO do I see as I'm walking up!? THE MISSION PRESIDENT!! WHY!!? WHY NOW? OF ALL DAY!? so that made my all kinds of nervous, so I did not give that kind of talk I have been, but I think it was still ok, I reminded the ward that they had home teachers, everyone and their grandma asked us for blessings and service and such things, so I said, "ask your home teachers, they can help you!" 

WELP! that was really all I can remember  good week, love life, love Shreveport, love everything about this place, love the city
LOVE
Elder CamCam Martin!