#allthedistrictmeetings - Letter 03/30/15

Hey!

This week was crazy busy, I feel like we didn't slow down all week. Which is good, I guess, but we're both pretty exhausted.

So Président Babin asked all the Zone Leaders to go to the first District Meeting of the transfer for every District in the Zone, so we ended up having 3 District Meetings this week :) It was pretty fun, but it ate up sooooo much time. It literally took half the day out of Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. But, we got to watch all the District Leader's training and make sure everything from Mission Council got relayed well, so it's all good :)

We also got to go on a few of our exchanges this week, to start knocking them out:) Wednesday I was with Elder Reiss, who's Elder Edmunds' new comp in the office. He's a cool guy, a very young missionary! I brought him into Paris for the exchange so he could see what it was like. We had a Visitor's Center shift that night, and while we were sitting there this guy walked in. It took me a minute, then I realized it was Elder Johnson (the old AP)'s dad! We talked for a couple minutes about how I lived with him for a couple months in Versailles. After a while he decided to call Tyler (Johnson) and FaceTime him! So I got to talk to him over FaceTime for a couple minutes, which was awesome! Even better, he was on a date with Kate Lefrandt, a Sister from our mission that I knew. And while we were FaceTiming, Remington Schultz, my old Zone Leader from Tours, called them haha. So many dead missionaries at once! But it was good to talk to them all, I miss them a ton.

My other exchange was our AP exchange, and I was with Elder Lam this time. It was so fun to work with him! We've done little exchanges before for convenience (and so they could use the car) when I was in the office, but this was our first real exchange. We had a really good time and got to really work hard together.

Yesterday after church we taught Wilson again. We've been teaching him with a Tahitian member, Taylor Temahuki, who was in my ward in Versailles but just moved to Paris. Anyways, he accepted to be baptized on May 10th! He's a little nervous, but he's willing to work hard to get his testimony of everything before that day. He's definitely going to go through with it, he's such a solid, sincere guy.

After our lesson with him we went less-active hunting all day. It was pretty long haha, we just had some addresses and our map-book of Paris. So we ran around for hours and were able to get in touch with some people, which was great.

Anyways, this was such a solid week. Really kicking it in high gear for the last couple months, and we're seeing some really cool miracles :) I love you all so much and pray for you. Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Tyler Martin

Face Timing Elder Johnson and Soeur Lefrandt!

Elder Madsen in the Paris rain

Sacré Coeur in the Rain

The Louvre Pyramid

 Eiffel Tower

Eiffel Tower

 

 

 

#transfers - Letter 03/23/15

Hey!

Sorry, this email is gonna be ridiculously short. Most of the week was the same old stuff, so I'll just give you the highlights because I don't have much time :)

So this was another crazy week haha. I realized that by the time I finish my mission, I will have spent about a year pretty much running transfer week. They're cutting down on what the office elders do now that Bates and I are gone, so more is falling on us here in Paris. But, it's all good :)

Tuesday was pretty fun with the Bleus :) We provided lunch and dinner for them, and we got to spend the day with them. We taught Wilson that night so that Gram could say goodbye to him, and he's moving along so well :) We taught him again Sunday, and he gave one of the best prayers I've ever heard :) He's getting really close with some of the other YSA, so he's well on his way for baptism :)

So I sent off Elder Gram and Elder Brockbank to Brest on Wednesday and met up with Elder Madsen :) He's super cool, he's also from Orem. We get along super well so far, so these last couple months are gonna be a party :)

Mission Council was pretty fun on Friday :) There's so many new people there, it's not at all like it was last transfer. But, I had a lot of friends there, and it was good to get some trainings from Président Babin.

That was pretty much my week, sorry it was so boring! Love you all so much, have a great week!

Love,

Elder Tyler Martin

Mission Council

#immabeadaddy...kinda - Letter 03/16/15

Hey!

So this was a pretty good week, it was just crazy! We've been getting ready for transfers, so everything's kind of fallen back on our heads. But it's been good, we're enjoying it.

The biggest thing this week was getting meals ready. We have to feed the Bleus and the trainers during transfer week, so we had to go out and order and organize all the meals during this week. We dropped a ton of money, but everyone should be pretty satisfied. It's so much simpler and cheaper when we do it the week before, so that should make this week a lot easier.

We also had to figure out train stations and metro tickets for everyone that's coming through Paris.  So we spent a full day planning out who was going to stay in which station and then buy all the tickets. It's gonna be interesting, especially because this is the first time that I'll be completely in charge of it ;)

So here's the big transfer news... Elder Gram is leaving! I really only had two big questions left in my mission: How long would I stay with Elder Gram and who would be my last companion? So, I found out on Saturday. I'm pretty bummed that I only got to do one transfer with Elder Gram, we get along so well. But, he's gonna have a great time out in Brest, which is right on the ocean in Bretagne. It was just recently re-opened because the branch fell apart out there. So, he's going out there with Elder Brockbank, a super solid missionary who's also in Elder Gram's group. He actually is staying with us in Paris right now, because his old companion, Elder Hall, is the new AP. So it's a cool opportunity for them to get to know each other before heading out.

My new companion is Elder Easton Madsen. It's funny, because he was actually Elder Gram's Bleu! He's in his 10th transfer now, and this will be his first transfer as Zone Leader. So I get to Zone Leader train him, which means he's kind of my son haha. He's an awesome kid and a really good missionary, so he should be able to keep me going these last couple months ;)

Elder Christiansen got his dream of opening Charleville :) He's heading out there Wednesday with Elder Brown, who he already served with as Paris Zone Leader haha :) So he'll finish his mission out there, he comes home with me.

So to answer some of your questions... President's big challenges for my last 12 weeks were just to spend some time every week reflecting on questions about my life, my preferences, and my goals and to make a solid game plan for when I get home.

Yes, crêpes and quiches are pretty big here, we make them every once in a while. They're really easy to make, and I'm gonna bring home a crêpe pan and a spatula.

We saw Wilson this week and taught him with Brother Lund, an American member in the ward. He's doing really well and wants to be baptized. He wants to set a date pretty soon, as soon as he's had a chance to come to church a couple times and really get his response. He actually came to Stake Conference clear out in Versailles this week! It took him forever and cost him a decent amount of money to get there, but he came! That was a sweet miracle in and of itself. He enjoyed it, and we had a picnic with a bunch of Chinese members in the Versailles Gardens afterwards. He ate it up, and all the Chinese girls were crazy about him haha. That's pretty good integration for him ;) We're seeing him again tomorrow night before Elder Gram leaves. We didn't get to see Nestor again, but we're seeing him after transfer stuff is over this week.

That's about it for my week. Thanks so much for your letters, and tell the boys congrats for everything this week! It sounds like they've been rocking it at everything! Also, tell C-Mack Happy Birthday from me!

Love you guys so much,

Elder Tyler Martin

Grass Car?

Elder Brockbank was a little tired after his train ride!

 

#doievenhaveanapartment? - Letter 03/09/15

Bonjour!

So right off the bat, I definitely didn't get much time at home this week. We were running around like crazy all week for Zone Conference, but I'll try to give you a good run-down of the week.

We spent tons of time printing, cooking, and prepping for the Conference earlier this week. Tuesday we took a couple minutes out to go contacting with Prisen, a member in our ward. He's a super cool young guy, and we got to see some cool miracles with him. We ended up having him come share his experience for part of our training on Thursday, it was perfect :) We ended up mixing 60 eggs, cooking 150 slices of bacon, and grating and frying 4 kilos of potatoes for our Zone breakfast, so that was nuts.

Wednesday we did a Blitzkrieg Exchange ( #mycomp=militaryhistorian) where everyone in the Zone went on exchanges with someone else in the Zone. Since we were the ones in charge of it, I got to pick who to go with. So.... I was with Logan! It was such a blast, we spent a ton of time just talking about his plans after the mission, we're gonna hit it up like crazy after the mission. We also went and visited the Guittons, since we were working in their area! The funniest moment of my week was seeing the look on his face when I showed up on his doorstep haha. It was cool to see them, and Jean-Luc said he'd come to Stake Conference to see me haha.

Thursday was the big day. We had Zone Breakfast and then Zone Conference! Our training went pretty well, and Prisen did great. We talked a ton about working better with members, since we need to be the initial push for member missionary work here. My interview with Président was really good, he gave me his 'Last 12 Weeks' program, a list of things he wants me to work on during my last 2 transfers. After, we had to talk to all the District Leaders and prepare the Confidentiality Report to send to the APs and President.

After Conference we went on exchanges with the APs. It was awesome, I FINALLY got my exchange with Elder Christiansen, after 20 months :) We had a blast, just talking about our missions and the future and stuff. Definitely one of those people that I'll be friends with after the mission. It's cool, because our exchange wasn't like most of them, where the Zone Leaders are trying to suck up to him. I already lived with him for 6 months, and I've got nothing to gain or lose from him, so we're just chill together :) We went and taught the Belins, they're recent converts that I was really good friends with. They were pumped to see me, and they actually invited Elder Gram and I to come over and eat with them and the APs next Friday :) So, that should be pretty fun.

Saturday we went and painted our ami Nestor's apartment, and he opened up a ton to us after that :) We also taught Wilson!  So here's his story: He is from Hong Kong, and he's taking his work holiday in Paris for 1 year. He was in Finland visiting a friend who happens to be a member of the church, and the missionaries are there. Wilson is super touched by their message, and wants to learn more and maybe get baptized. One of the missionaries has a friend serving in the Paris mission, in Mulhouse. That friend was Elder Traue! So Wilson emailed Elder Traue, who then called me and gave me all his contact info. So we got to teach him on Saturday, and he's super open and ready for the gospel. On Sunday he came to church for all 3 hours, then came to a baptism after church. He felt the Spirit super strongly, asked lots of questions, and feels like he wants to get baptized :) So that was awesome :)

Yesterday was nuts between the baptism, giving the Sacrament to sick members, visiting hospitals, giving blessings, the whole 9 yards. It was a blast :)

Sounds like you guys are having a great week, I love you so much! Take care, talk to you soon!

Love,

Elder Tyler Martin

P.S. When is Mother's Day in the States?

 I made baguettes this morning! 

#boulangermartin

Prepping for Zone Breakfast :)

Paris Zone - Zone Conference

Paris Zone - Zone Conference

Elder Christensen, Elder Lam, Elder Gram

Paris Zone - Zone Leaders

Teaching at Zone Conference with Elder Gram

#ghettoexchange - Letter 03/02/15

Hey!

So I'm gonna warn you ahead of time, this week wasn't nearly as exciting. Mostly we planned and prepared for Zone Conference, so it wasn't a huge adventure. 

I got to go on exchanges to St. Ouen this week! It's just north of Paris, and it's kind of the slums haha. I was with Elder Young from Layton. We had a pretty good time. We taught a couple of their amis and got to go contacting in a little ville north of where they live that's way less sketchy. 

Wednesday I had to go back to the Office... again. Elder Bates called me Tuesday night, wondering if I still had the IKEA membership card. I thought I'd given it to Elder Edmunds, but I still had it. So, Elder Gram and I went out to Le Vésinet again to drop it off. It was cool, I got to say my last goodbyes to the Walls, they're on the plane home right now. 

Thursday was a pretty solid day. We went back to work in the bakery that night to help Frère Morah close up. We had a good time, he really likes to give us a hard time :) He told us all his ghost stories about the bakery and had us belt out missionary hymns once the shop was closed as we were cleaning haha. At the end he told us that he really did appreciate that we came over. Not really for the extra help, because he could do it by himself way faster, but because we thought of him and came to visit him. It was super cool, and he actually showed up to church on Sunday!!! It was a really cool tender mercy. He hasn't come in a long time, and when he does come it's off and on. So hopefully we're making a difference :)

We had English class this week, but it was a little dry haha. The first one, the guy told everyone the wrong time, so nobody showed up. For our evening class we had a couple people show up, but we didn't really cover everything we wanted to. Still, it's better than nothing :) 

We helped the Maynards start moving some things from the Institute building at St. Merri. We put a bunch of stuff in the cellar because they're starting a new self-reliance program this week, but no one really knows how much room or materials they'll need. So, we just gave them a huge chunk of the Institute and we're hoping they use it all :)

We taught Marco yesterday, with David Babin. He's doing pretty well, he's just really reticent about getting an answer about the Restoration. He wants to understand everything before asking God about it, but it's not necessarily the process. He's getting there though. We had a Visitor's Center shift, so it was pretty relaxed all afternoon. 

Simon Pierre isn't gonna get baptized this weekend, he has too hard a time showing up to church. So, we'll push him back a couple weeks and see what happens. He's a cool guy, he just needs to get some motivation. That's probably been our biggest challenge this week, just getting him up and going. 

Withold and Nathalie are just kind of slumping along. I don't know where they're gonna go, because they don't really put any effort into changing for right now. 

One of my big concerns right now I guess is college stuff. I've still got a while till I come home, but the college stuff is starting to get more urgent. So, that's been a little stressful. But, I've got an awesome momma that's helping me out, so it'll all work out :)

Anyways, there's my week! Thanks for everything, love you!

Love,

Elder Tyler Martin

 

The baguette we got from Frère Morah was a little off...

Grilled Cheese :)