Letter 01/27/14

Hey!

Yeah, I am very excited to be staying in Bruxelles! Sadly, I'm pretty sure I'll leave after this transfer, but we'll see! I could end up staying for 3 or 4, but at this point, I doubt it. I was really sad to see Elder Christensen go, he is a great missionary and a really great friend. But, I love my new comp(s) haha! Being in a 3-man is different, but I'm really enjoying it. It changes the way we contact people and teach, but we are starting to find a really good balance. Also, it requires more food, which Elder Christensen and I did not buy accordingly for last week because we didn't know. So, that made this week a little hairy. But, it's OK! I think there used to be a 3 man in our apartment, because we already had beds and closets for all of us. It isn't as difficult as I was told to get along in a 3 man. In fact, sometimes we get along too well and go off on tangents during planning haha. But, we're working on that :) 

So, Elder Richer-Brulé (or just Richer), is from Ottawa, Ontario. He is 100% bilingual, he grew up speaking French and English at home, had church in English, and had school in French. So, he really helps us out a lot with the language. He is in his 16th transfer! For most missionaries that is the last transfer, but since he didn't have to learn a language in the MTC he gets an extra one. He has been a Zone Leader and District Leader for most of his mission, and so there's a lot of wisdom there to draw from :) He is a great missionary. As District Leader, he just does the same thing that Elder McKechnie and Elder Stucki did as DL's; exchanges, trainings, weekly calls, and just kind of leading the District and reporting to the Zone Leaders.
 

Elder Ward is from Idaho, from Mountain Home. He is in his 3rd transfer, so he just left his first ville and his trainer. He is a great missionary, and lots of fun. He's still got that bleu fire that we need here in Bruxelles, it's great! 

This week was a crazy week! We tried to give Phil a baptismal date, and he shot it down. He said he wouldn't ever be baptized, and that we were wasting our time on a doomed soul. But, by the end of the lesson he said that he just needed some time to really think and pray about it. He wants to be baptized to be cleaned, but he doesn't necessarily want to join any church in particular. I have faith that he'll come around and do well. Dido was super sick, so we weren't able to see him :( He wasn't able to come to church either. But, we'll make up for that this week! The man we found in the church, Aimable (it means loveable or likeable haha) has been passed to another équipe. We taught several less active members, including a little Spanish speaking family that I love to death. Their son is less active, so we visit him regularly. But, the other son is working on his mission papers! The grandpa is about 5 feet tall and super loving. He's determined to teach me Spanish before I leave (Linds should be excited about that ;) ). Technically I have to have permission to really study it, and Président isn't a big fan of it if there isn't a good reason. But, after the mission I'll learn Spanish, it's super useful. We also visited Paul, an Albanian guy that lives in the other half of Bruxelles but prefers our Ward. He actually lives about 10 minutes from the Atomium, which is super cool. Yesterday we set up lots of visits with members for this week.

Do you remember Joseph Fife, who did Cedar Badge with me when I was younger? Well his older brother, Sam, is in my Ward! He's in Bruxelles for a few months with his wife on an internship. So, we got to talk to them for a few minutes, which was really cool.

I learned a cool lesson on member missionary work yesterday. We have been looking for young, really solid interested people, but it's really tough. Then Danial Casares, one of our young men, brought 3 of his friends that are intently searching for the truth in their lives! They're awesome young guys, and I'm really excited to start teaching them! GO MEMBER MISSIONARY WORK!!!!!

Aiden and the Lears will be in my prayers, I love that family! Also, I'm praying that whatever happens with dad's work, it will be for the best. Whether that is staying in Idaho or not, I know that it will be for the best. 

I'm not too cold, but the temperature has dropped this week. It has been between 7 and 12 degrees Celsius since I got here, but now it hangs around 1 degree all day, every day. But, we got the heater in our apartment working again, so I don't have to wear my thermals to bed or to studies anymore :) 

Keep up the good work at home, I'm so excited for everything that you are doing right now! Tell the boys I love them and they're in my prayers! They're lives are moving pretty well, and I'm really glad for them. I love you all so much, have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Martin