There's ALWAYS a Silver Lining

Joyeux Thanksgiving!

I got my Thanksgiving package, and wow! Thank you soooo much, it is amazing! I am so excited to eat all of that. Honestly, we had one of the packages of potatoes that day because I couldn't help it. It was heavenly! The potatoes here are ok, but they aren't Idahoans! I'm super pumped for the other packages haha, that will be way fun! I have enough extra room in my luggage by now to not have to worry about carrying it all if I get transferred. That's what happens by the time you leave your first ville haha. Without the Christmas stuff I could probably travel with just my 2 suitcases and the carry-on packed inside the big bag. 

So I'll have to be honest with you, this week was harder than last week. We had kind of a rough leçon with Marian, but we figured we could still salvage it and schedule a later leçon. Then I was on exchanges in Nancy with my ZL Elder Pilling. We had some sketchy leçons, including one when their ami was totally drunk. But, the pearl of the exchange was going to be meeting with their ami that was preparing for baptism for this Saturday. The lesson was awesome for the first part, but once we started to teach tithing he flipped. He basically gave us back ALL of his Church reading material and ordered us to get out of his apartment and never come back. So that was a little rough. When we got back to Épinal the next day Elder Hammons (the other ZL) and Elder Stucki had just finished a leçon with Marian. It was almost the same thing. We were able to set up a leçon for tonight to hopefully salvage it, but he basically told them that he was done and didn't want to continue investigating the church. It was not the easiest thing that's happened so far on my mission. But, there are always, ALWAYS silver linings. 

This week with the Saitovics was super good. They are all progressing, reading, coming to church, praying, the whole 9 yards. Then on Saturday we had an awesome FHE with them with a family in our branch. Frère Lambin, the dad, bore his testimony about his conversion, then talked about how this was the most wonderful blessing of his life. He basically promised them that he knew they would find happiness here, and inadvertently invited them to be baptized haha. Awesome member! They really felt the Spirit and we are just working on fixing a specific date for right now. But, our lessons with them this week are what helped me make it through. We feel completely at home with that family, and I will probably miss them more than anyone else here, except Elder Stucki haha. I've been their missionary longer than anyone else so far, and we have such a solid relationship. God sends us miracles even in the middle of the storms!

Don't worry too much about the video, if you send it after Thanksgiving I should get it no problem. I believe that Elder Stucki has a Facebook, if you could add him that would be awesome :) Tell Tristan congrats with Mr. RHS! To be honest, I really miss that night haha. It is so cool, and I'm so glad that he did so well. He really is quite an example to others at Rigby High School right now. 

I'm so excited to spend Christmas here! Hopefully I'll be in Épinal for all of Christmas season. Our branch president has big plans for us for Christmas day, and Frère Lambin invited us over for my birthday! We basically just have days off those two days, because we can't do missionary work. We might go caroling haha. The Christmas Marché opens up on Friday, and we think the lights turn on that night as well. I'm so excited! Next week I'll send photos of all of it, including the HUMONGOUS tree in the middle of town.  

You guys are all in my prayers! Please don't worry about me too much, it was a tough week but it was also a really good week in a lot of ways. I spent a ton of time on my knees, and I've never felt so comforted before. I've learned a lot about myself this week and I feel like I've become a way better missionary because of it. I love you all, and oh.... Skype one month from today!!! Have a great week, I love you!

 

Love,

Elder Martin

 

Elder Pilling and I catching snowflakes our first snow storm of the year!

 

Gimme that snowflake win!

 

 

 Christmas package from mama Stucki! Tree, presents, Nativity, and stockings :) Joyeux Noël!

 

 

 Happy Meal! We were trying to get the Pokémon toys, but they gave us Ice Age. So we're going back today!

 

This is what my desk looks like every day.... Missionaries need toys too haha. Also, I love this mug! My souvenir from Épinal!

 

 

Marché de Nöel! - Letter 11/18/13

Hello!

I'm glad you liked the video :) We were sitting around with nothing to do and the idea just popped into my head! I'm almost 100% sure that it's all good, so no worries there. If anything comes out saying not to I'll let you know. I'm super excited to Skype too! After today I only email 5 more times before we Skype, and the last one is 2 days before! The time is moving crazy fast. 

I really hope you can come back here with me too, it is so amazing! I really hope I am here for Christmas, but there's a really good chance that I'll leave. My branch president was super bummed when he heard that I may leave in a few weeks. He said he's planning something big for us for Christmas, and he hopes that it's still Elder Stucki and I that he gets to plan it for. President Gottscheck is one of the coolest guys I've met. He is pretty young, a Gendarme (military policeman), and he used to live in Martinique, which is super tropical and very different from Épinal haha.

I can't wait to get the Thanksgiving package! I will check for those other two as well. I just about cried when I read that story about Charlie! I love that little guy, tell him I miss him so much! I'll make sure to find his picture so that I can find my way back home :)

I really can't think of anything else for my Christmas list haha. Sorry! We don't need a whole lot out here. Definitely make sure the long john's are in there :) It's getting really cold right now. I borrow Elder Stucki's extra pair every day when we leave the apartment. I would say send it this week though. I just don't know what will happen with transfers, and even if I leave Épinal before it gets here (and it shouldn't take that long) I would still get it faster than if you send it after transfers. Plus, Elder Stucki and I want to take advantage of the Christmas cheer ;) I'm so excited for the Christmas music! Elder Stucki's mom sent us a bunch of CD's, so we've been drinking hot cocoa and listening to Christmas music every night before bed. It's a rough life ;)

So.... I have to be honest, this week may not have been the best week of my mission so far. Marian's baptismal date fell through, because he doesn't want to stop smoking. He got kind of ticked at us one night as we were talking about it, and he almost dropped us. But, we calmed him down and encouraged him. Now he is working on it, slowly but surely. The problem is, he doesn't read the Book of Mormon and doesn't come to church, so it's impossible for him to really gain a testimony and feel the Spirit strongly. Both of our lessons with him this week were the 2 roughest lessons so far on my mission. But, that's ok! Elder Stucki's trainer, who was an amazing missionary, used to say that God gives us these weeks to prepare us for the miracles. When I first got here, I had a whole transfer like that to prepare me for last transfer, which was full of miracles. We push forward! The Saitovics are doing well. They went to their daughter's baptism (she was taught in St. Dié, like 45 minutes away, by the Elders there) this weekend, and Bata said last week that he'll be more open to baptismal dates once he sees it for himself. So, hopefully we can (finally) set that date with them this week! We haven't gotten any new amis yet this transfer, which is kind of tough. Last transfer, we got at least one new ami every week, so this is a little bit of a change. But it is a normal part of the work!

So this week I starved a little bit haha. We couldn't go shopping on Monday because EVERYTHING was closed, so we didn't have much food until we could finally go shopping Thursday. Elder Stucki was in Nancy on exchanges Tuesday and Wednesday, so I got to try and feed two other Elders for two days with our tiny amount of food haha. Right now, my favorite thing about Épinal is Christmas! They have been working on setting up lights for 3 weeks already, and they won't finish till they light them up the beginning of Décembre. Also, today we saw that they are setting up a Christmas Market in town! They are the talk of the mission haha, everyone loves Christmas Markets. I don't really know how I've lost 30 pounds, because we eat a ton and I feel the same haha. But, the slacks that grandma bought me finally fit, so that is an awesome benefit. 

Sounds like a crazy week! I will keep all of you in my prayers, especially Grandpa Martin. Have fun helping Kaitlin with the mission stuff, doesn't it feel like you just barely did this? ;) And just think, that was almost 6 months ago! The time is moving really quickly, and everyone says that after the first 6 months it jumps into hyperspeed. We're already halfway through this transfer, and it just started! I love you all so much, and I really appreciate your love and support! That is what keeps me going! I got Dad and Connor and Kaden's letters this week, that made my week! I love you, have a great week!

Love,

Elder Martin

 

 Best. Buy. Ever.  We found Kinder Eggs with princesses inside!

 

La Paix!  Peace out!

 

 

 Ghosty Hosties!  We're ready for Halloween! Thanks again for the package!

 

Lookin' Good!  I already used my only mustache joke this week... But sick mustaches!

 

Chinese Food!  Elder Stucki gets Chinese food at the end of every transfer, so this was our meal 3 weeks ago! Yes!

 

Le Chat Botte!  I think Puss in Boots was written in Épinal, because it is widely known as the Chat Botté region ha..ha.

 

Our District photo from last transfer with everyone holding the number of their transfer. (Except Elder Davis next to me, but he's in my group) We have a super young district!

 

Fastah, Fashtah, Fastah Sonic X!  We found Sonic the Hedgehog while porting! (Knuckles was there too but he ran away)

 

Crazy Doormat!  I mustache these people to be baptized.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Letter and Pictures from Elder and Sister Chacon - Sr. Missionaries in Nancy District

Hi Martin Family,

I wanted to take another opportunity to send you a couple pictures of Elder Martin.

We are happy that transfers didn't cause that he be moved away from Nancy area so that we have a few more weeks to enjoy him at District Meetings.

He and Elder Stucki are working hard in Epinal and his enthusiasm is still strong.

Elder Chaston and I are sadly having to leave the mission because of Elder Chaston's health issues.  He had a heart attack on October 11th and bypass surgery here in France on October 22nd. We are now just waiting for him to recover and be strong enough for the flight home.

We have been so impressed by the strength of these young men and women in this mission.  The Lord has truly reserved his "most valiant" for now.  

Our prayers are that your family will be strengthened by the blessings that Elder Martin is bringing to you through his service. 

Best Wishes!!

Elder and Sister Chaston

 

 

 

Letter 11/11/13

Hey!

It has been a pretty good week here, but it has gone by so fast!
Sometimes I can't believe how fast it goes. I hit my 6 month mark next
transfer! I had my first 'feeling old' experience, because we have
like 6 bleus in our zone right now. It is kind of messed up. In 4
weeks I'll be where Elder Stucki was when he got to Épinal! Ahh!

So, to answer your questions: We try to do service pretty often, but
the members all live so far away that it is super tough to do. But we
try anyways :) We haven't really eaten with members since the Sunday
before Elder McKechnie left, kind of for the same reason, everyone is
really far away. But it's alright :) For Prophet of the Restoration, I
want the MOVIE :) it's the one they show in the visitor's center haha.
That's one of the only movies that isn't just provided in our
apartments, so we crave that movie a little haha. For music you can
just put it on the jump drive and send it, that should work best. Our
DVD players in our apartments all have little ports so that we can
play music. If you could put the MoTab Called to Serve on that would
be awesome too, but only if you have time :) The pin is just the
France version of the one that we gave to Tanner. The France one is
the toughest to find, so they may not have it anymore. If not it isn't
a big deal. Sometimes the mission office gets some, so who knows, I
may get one over the next 19 months. I never got a package from Aunt
Katie, when did she send it? I may get it this week.

A Soldes is a HUGE  sale that they do across the whole country, every
store, twice a year. It lasts about 4 weeks, and my first one will be
in January. Basically, by the end of Soldes you can buy full suits for
like 60 Euros. So I may get some new shirts that fit a little better,
because mine are a little baggy haha. I've now lost almost 30 pounds
since leaving the MTC haha. I haven't been this light since my
freshman or sophomore year.

Sounds like an awesome week. I'm so happy for Trace! Could you send me
his address next week so I can write him a letter? Kylee sent some
pictures from the baptism, that is so awesome! I can't wait until
Marian's baptism. Only 12 days! Sounds like the missionary work at
home is going super well! I'm so excited for all of you, this is such
a big time! Keep that momentum rolling, this is testimony of how much
the members can help missionary work! We should be fixing a date with
the Saitovics tonight, they've been praying really hard for the 30
Novembre, and I think they may go with it, at least some of them.
They'll definitely all be baptized before Christmas. Marian had his
surgery thing and he's doing well, we gave him a blessing the night
before :) He is like a kid before Christmas, so excited for his
baptism. I love that guy!

We'll be Skyping before we know it! I remember going into the MTC and
thinking wow, 6 months till I get to Skype. That's forever! And now
it's almost here! The time passes ridiculously here.

Kind of short letter this week, sorry! I'm sending you a surprise
today, so keep an eye on the mail. You're going to love it! We don't
have lots of computer time because everything is closed for the 11
Novembre, so we're at our super slow church computer. Have a great
week, I love you all so much! You're in my prayers!

Love,
Elder Martin

I Guess it Rains Down in Epinal (Africa) - Letter 11/04/13

Hey!

So I'll start off answering your questions... For pictures we usually email them or print them, depending on how good the internet is. It's kind of sad that we're in the Multimedia Center of the town and the internet isn't strong enough to send pictures, but c'est la vie!

I'm glad you haven't shipped that stuff yet, because I thought of a few more things :) We figured out that BYU mint truffles with hot cocoa are amazing! So if you send hot cocoa, could you possibly send some of those too? ;) I could also use some white Long John's, it's starting to get kind of cold here haha. But they definitely have to be white. If you could find another microfiber towel like the one we bought at Deseret Book, that would be great. That way my towel doesn't start to get stinky before Monday morning :) Last but not least, CHRISTMAS MUSIC :) They don't celebrate Thanksgiving here, so Christmas season has started and we have been listening to the same three or four Christmas songs over and over haha. Pretty much any classic stuff that you would hear on Classy 97 fits the standards. If you send the seasoning and jump drive, make sure to get Dad's letter and some family pictures as well :) Make sure and send it to my Épinal address, if you send it to the Mission Home I probably won't get it until transfers, if I even get it then. If you feel like that isn't enough you can put some money aside, I'll have my first Soldes the month after Christmas. That should be all!

Your other question... Elder Christiansen is in my transfer, we were super good friends and shared a room in the MTC. So he finished his training and jumped right into training someone else! I am super happy for him, I actually get to see him tomorrow! I doubt I'll train next transfer, because I'll probably leave Épinal and they usually only have older missionaries train and white wash a ville at the same time. Whenever it happens, I'll be super pumped! I'm pretty sure Elder Stucki will train someone here when I leave though :)

So it has been an awesome week! We fixed a date with Marian! We were originally shooting for the 16 Novembre, but he wasn't sure. Then he told us that one day he was in terrible pain with his back, just lying on his couch, and he started praying. He said it was like God was standing next to him saying "Marian, vas-y! (Go ahead!) You know you need to do this, now go!" Then he sat up and had a really strong craving for a cigarette, so he reached for one and the same voice told him to stop, so he listened and didn't smoke it, and now is working super hard at stopping smoking! What a miracle! He has a back surgery scheduled for this week, so now the 16th won't work. But, we are locked and loaded for the 23rd! This is a super exciting time to be in Épinal! Also, he said that if we're here for Christmas we are invited over to his apartment because he can't go home to Romania for Christmas. I would love to stay here for that! 

The Saitovic's haven't fixed a date yet, unfortunately. They really are ready, but they don't think they are. They are actually fighting their problems with the Word of Wisdom really well and they could be ready for the 30th of November, or even the 7th Decembre if necessary. But still this transfer! They are an awesome family, and they have so much faith! Now we just have to help them realize that they are more prepared than they think.

I will Skype at Christmas, as long as we have a member that will let us come over. But I've never heard of anyone not being able to find a member, so no worries :) I'm super excited to see all of you too! I can't believe that I will see you next month! Even scarier, the day after is my 6 month mark! I can't believe I'm almost 1/4 of the way done with my mission! I still feel like I just left home a few weeks ago! The time passes super fast.

Sounds like a crazy week at home! Everyone is keeping super busy, which is awesome. I can't wait to hear the acoustics in that auditorium. Also, don't forget that you promised to be a chaperone with me for the California trip the year after I get home, when Kaden is in the Band! I can't believe Grandma and Grandpa will be starting their mission papers soon! That is such an exciting time! Tell Trace I'm super happy for him! This is such a huge step and I'm super proud of him. This is going to change his life! If you could, I'd love to have his email address or home address to send him a letter or something! I email Tanner each week, he sounds like he's loving it! He is so awesome, and I'm super happy for him right now. 

I love you guys so much and love hearing from you! Keep me posted on your lives and tell everyone to not be afraid to send handwritten letters every once in a while ;) But it's not a big deal, I don't want people spending too much, the postage is expensive too. Have a great week, I love you all!

Love,

Elder Martin