"...And out of small things proceedeth that which is great.": Sister Martin: Saving England, one dog(?) at a time!!

Another rainy week of hilarious mishaps and precious tender mercies! England is still beautiful. I still love being a missionary, and my love for Christ continues to grow daily!

Dog Hero!

I'm saving lives out here......but apparently not in the way you would expect! I have saved the lives of 2 fluffy little dogs in the last week and a half!! English people love dogs more than they love complaining about the weather, so they should just start making those hero medals for me now ;)

We were walking to the chapel one day and suddenly heard this lady shout out "please grab my dog". Bless her heart, she was standing in her doorway in a bathrobe, too embarrassed to run out to get the dog. Lucky for her, I have tons of experience in this department.

Anyone who knows my family well knows that our dog Teddy is an absolute moron! He loves to sneak out of the house and frolic up and down our street. As neighbourhood kids, it was a game for us to all chase him up and down our street Scooby Doo style:

Scooby and Shaggy run.....zombie/monster/ugly creepy whatever chases after. Repeat. Repeat. Repeat. (*with catchy music running in the background). Just liken Scooby and Shaggy to my dog, and the monsters to us meddling kids, and you have my childhood in a nutshell! Dog saved. All was well! Bazinga! SUPER MISSIONARY!

No joke, a week later we were walking to the chapel (again) and we see this tiny puppy just running by itself on the road. No sign of human life anywhere. I dove and snatched it up, and struggling we started knocking doors to find the owner. Squirmiest dog of my life!!!! Holding that puppy was like trying to hold a bar of soap in a bathtub! We eventually found the owner and all was well.

Forget knocking on doors! I think we should just start stealing puppies and "return" them to their owners! People are so much nicer! We joked that if we started tracking number of dogs saved per week, instead of number of baptisms, then we would be the most successful missionaries in the UK!

Quotes of the week:

1. A newer sister missionary zone conference:

"Sister Martin, I hope I can come to love my mission as much as you love yours. You always say that you're scared that you'll wake up one day and your mission will be over. I'm still scared of waking up every morning!"

2. They had some missionary companionships play the "shoe game" at zone conference. For anyone not familiar with this game, it's a common wedding reception game. The couple sits back to back so they can't see each other. They get asked different questions like "Who is the better cook?". Each person puts a shoe in the air of the person who they think best fits the question.

Best question of the game!!!! The Chinese speaking sisters were playing. One companion is American (learning Chinese), and other one is originally from Hong Kong (i.e. is legit Chinese). They are both absolutely hilarious!

Question: "If you had a car, who would be most likely to crash it".

Chinese sister: "Seriously! So not fair! You totally set me up! This is such a racist joke!!!" Anyone from Vancouver-- (especially if they have driven around in Richmond)-- could appreciate the humour!

3. We were having a conversation about food with a member: what is acceptable and what is absolutely, just plain wrong. Sis. McD commented on how she thought it was gross that the Americans in the MTC would put syrup on most of their breakfast food. I had to pipe in that there is absolutely nothing wrong with having syrup on your bacon, sausage, eggs, etc. The member kindly supported me with the best quote of the night:

Member: "I do think it's gross, but I have to say that it's acceptable for her to do it! She's Canadian! They're allowed to put syrup on everything! Hello! Maple syrup! Canada! It's just meant to happen. The Americans shouldn't do it though...that's just wrong!".

4. My bad pun on the week!:

We were getting permission from our branch president to organize an international food night activity for the branch. After he approved it, I couldn't help but toss in one bad joke to seal the deal:

"We are so excited about this activity! We have been cooking this one up for awhile!". Har har. Kneeslap! I really am shocked that my companions put up with all my terrible jokes! I hope they get blessed for their patience and unconditional love!

5. Random rant from a member in our branch: "It's so stupid how English people talk about the weather all the time. Don't they have anything else better to do than to be like "Blah it's raining. Blah it's not raining. Blah it's raining again. Blah it's too hot. Blah it's not hot enough...blah blah blah. American people are fat, but you don't hear American people talking about food all day. We need to be more like them. Our weather sucks, but doesn't mean we need to talk about it 24/7!!"

Possibly the most random rant I've heard in awhile, but also one of the funniest! I do love my English friends! They do complain about the weather a lot, but I find it very endearing! You just can't take the UK loving out of me!!

I am Maid Marion!

Only people who have served in English missions may fully appreciate this! My umbrella died a month ago, therefore I have been soaking wet and freezing lately! My beautiful, wonderful mother shipped me the BEST UMBRELLA EVER! It folds up into this little case, that has drawstrings that allow it to be worn like a backpack! We carry so much rubbish all day, so to not have to carry an umbrella in my hand is heaven on earth! Unfortunately, Sis McD can no longer take me seriously anymore because of it. She says I look like Maid Marion (from Robin Hood) or Joan of Arc when I wear it. The case kind of looks like the cases that they would use to hold arrows in. So now whenever we run for the bus, I reach behind my back and pretend to grab and shoot arrows at things as we run. It makes Sis McD laugh even harder and then she can't breath and we have to stop running!

The Selkirk Grace:

I mentioned it last week! A lovely member (the one who made us the Haggis) got us the words to it so we can learn it. I came up with a painful, but hilarious, idea. Before we start eating at the international food night, I'm going to have the American elders and myself say the Selkirk Grace for the food.....emphasizing our nasally N. American accents as much as possible! Can't get more foreign than that....right?!

Selkirk Grace:

"Some hae meat but cannae eat

an' some wad eat that want it,

But we hae meat and we can eat

an' sae the Lord be thankit."

she gave us this as well!

Scottish Toast:

"May the best ye've ever seen

Be the worst ye'll ever see,

May a moose ne'er leave yer girnal

Wi' a teardrop in his e'e,

May ye aye be hale and he'rty

Till ye're auld enough tae dee,

May ye aye be just as happy

As I wish ye aye to be."

- Robert Burns

I love the Scottish accent! Never in my lifetime will I even begin to get close to being able to impersonate one, but safe to say that when I get home and am homesick for England, I'll be watching Brave on replay so I can feel like I'm in Carlisle again!

Dumb fact:

When my English companion tries to yawn and talk at the same time, it sounds like a seal barking.

Dumb Fact #2:

Napoleon Dynamite quotes are so much more impressive and hilarious when done by an English person. "Tina, you big fat larrrrrrrd"

Spiritual Tidbit of the Week:

It's hard to write about the miracles and lessons over email without getting too personal, so I'll keep trying to share with you my own scripture insights that I get throughout the week!

D&C 11:12-14; 27:

12 And now, verily, verily, I say unto thee, put your trust in that Spirit which leadeth to do good—yea, to do justly, to walk humbly, to judge righteously; and this is my Spirit.

13 Verily, verily, I say unto you, I will impart unto you of my Spirit, which shall enlighten your mind, which shall fill your soul with joy;

14 And then shall ye know, or by this shall you know, all things whatsoever you desire of me, which are pertaining unto things of righteousness, in faith believing in me that you shall receive.

27 Behold, I speak unto all who have good desires, and have thrust in their sickle to reap.

These verses really touched me this week! How often do we desire to do great, life-changing things, but find ourselves feeling like we are not good enough?! I have felt this way so often! We feel like we do not make a difference. I realized this week, that most of us will never be called to be great leaders in the world. We will quietly live our lives and by the world's standards, will have no influence/power on others. I have seen that the world is wrong!

As I have followed the counsels in v. 12, I've realized how much joy and satisfaction I have had with my life because of it. I have been able to influence the lives of my companions. The members I work with. My family. No. I have not been called to be some great "official" leader. That is because there is no need for that. We are all called to influence the lives of others for good daily. We CAN do this. God places the right people in our paths daily! It is up to us to make good of those "small" opportunities he gives us.

I have experienced that joy that is described in v. 13. As I have simply sought to draw closer to Christ, I have been given so many chances to bless the lives of others. My scripture studies become more deep and meaningful. In turn I feel of His love more, and as I do, my desire and the opportunity to share that love with my brothers and sisters grows. As I have those small daily moments with individuals, I see my life and others change, and then my original desires (to change the world) happen! I pray we can seek more for those daily opportunities to do good. To lift others up. To come closer to God. On this plain of living, we see miracles and lives changed. We gain a deeper purpose in our lives. We find unconditional happiness and satisfaction!

Anyways, I really do love you all! I feel so much love and support as I serve, and I am grateful for that! Keep praying! Keep doing good!

I hope the time goes quickly for you and slowly for me!
<3 Sister Martin