Howdy All!

Alrighty. This week has been...well...COLD to say the least. Today it's 35 degrees out, with humidity and it feels like a heat wave. So much so I'm not wearing 2 sweaters or my coat. Still my warm boots and long sleeves though. You'd be insane if you went out without long sleeves on...

I don't have much to report on. We got a new Investigator who referred himself on Mormon.org. That was kinda cool. He came to church and seems really solid. But besides that it's been a pretty boring week...

But here's some pictures to brighten your day!

I'm being arsty again...Yes this is me. Yes this is what I look like in the artic freeze. Sub zero temperatures with a wind chill don't stop the missionaries! (we just don't walk around as much).

But you know we do wear 2 sweaters under our coats, 2 pairs of gloves and at least 2 pairs of tights. Yup it's just been that cold!

I also don't think I will ever understand Ohio. They leave their fountains running when the ice is covered with snow and don't worry about them freezing. I guess they just need a place for the ducks to swim...

I hope all of you are having a great week!

Sister Martineau

The New Year

This week was New Years! Happy new year!

2015!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm super excited about this year. Do you want to know why? Because this is the year I have dedicated to the Lord! And by the end of the year I'll be at the end of this grant adventure. But that doesn't matter right now. What matters is what I make of this year. 

I hope all of you are working on goal setting. If you haven't yet, well, that's what the Atonement is for! Goals are a good way of getting what you want. But when you make goals, keep in mind that you'll have to work to achieve them. They won't just be handed to you. 

I'm starting to fall in love with Ohio. I know the pictures I send home make it look like I'm out in the boonies. Not the case. I'm just able to find the wilderness everywhere. There are so many streams and ponds everywhere. The birds always seem to sing...or make a ruckas...Since there is hardly ever less than 20 in one place. But hey, it's fun. Even if they don't pose well for pictures. 

Last week we went to visit a less active in a retirement home. On our way out a lady stopped us because she wanted to see our fun/funky tights. This is how the conversation went....

L: Are you wearing those because it's cold outside? 

Me: Yeah, it's REALLY cold outside. (it's been 20-35 degrees with humidity)

L: You big baby!! 

Yup, nothing like being called a baby by an old lady...

Oh! Just so everyone knows, if it's not cold, it's raining. Unless the skies really hate us...then it's both. BUT on this day it was warm. And we were out walking around because we didn't have anything else to do. It was nice, there was a break in the rain, all the puddles were still out, and it was lost of fun to jump in them.  

REMINDER: this girl has the balance of a one-legged Penguin. 

I saw what looked like a really good puddle. But what I didn't see was the pot hole just below the glimmering surface. (How could I? It was dark out). So I did a leap into the puddle, found the pot hole, and crashed. Yeah, puddle jumping is fun. But what isn't fun is limping home, soaking wet ...

Hope you are all having lots of fun!
Sister Martineau

Sugar Coma

First of all I would like to thank everyone and your dogs who sent me something for christmas. Everyone says that the Christmas in the field is the best. But I think that it's because it's the one time a year everyone gets flooded with mail and best wishes from home on top of all the love the members give you. But the one thing I don't miss is cleaning up after christmas...

I also figured that I should let everyone know that I think I'm set as far as candy goes for the rest of my mission...

And Now for the pictures of lisens plates/bumber sticker...I've been collecting them for a while and now I'm going to shar them! (PS Ohio is in the bible best so...)

I Love all of you lots and hope you know it. I read today that Love is the greatest commandment so I'm trying hard to love everyone. Not very easy but hey, exact obidience brings blessings. Every time. 

Love Sister Martineau

Merry Christmas!!

Merry Christmas to All! Hope all of your decorations are up. I know we had lots of fun decorating: I know we did! PS are smurfs green or Ogres? Either way I'm turning into something...

Every where I go it seems like something Christmasy is going on. I mean, we've got a tree, ornaments, a nativity, presents....what else do we need?

And the scenery that is going on this time of year....

And the things people are sending out to others for Christmas...I guess someone has a good sense of humor. 

And you know...the world really is beautiful. Everywhere you look it's just amazing.

I hope all of you have a good Christmas. I know I will. Sis A is SOOO trunky it's ridiculous by hey, that comes with the season right? Remember the reason for the season. Watch He is the Gift. Share the gift. HE is the Gift.

Love Sister Martineau

Made it!!

So you know when you have a ward right next door to your? Yeah...the Westchester and Montgomery wards are neighbors. Our boundary line is one that I used to drive all the time! Not too far away from home I guess.

My address
Companion
The Work
Sleep?
Mission Recipe

First things first!! If you didn't know by my last email I got transferred. And with the holiday season coming up I would hate for packages to go to a missionary apartment that no longer exists!

My Addy 5641 Sterling Lakes Cr #103
                 Mason OH 45040

My new Companioni is Sister Ashcraft. And I'm "killing her off" too! Yup. This is her last transfer. She's handling it a bit differently than Sister Smith. But that's okay. Everyone is different right? We're getting along really well. And I'm learning a lot about patience.

The work here is different. There isn't a lot of investigators. Actually, we only have 2. All the less actives either don't want to see us or are starting to come back to the church and the member LOVE us. COMPLETELY different from Montgomery. But it's a good different. You know how good it feels when you don't have a place to go and It's 8:00 at night and all you want to do is go home. Well, the member love it when we stop in! NO MORE PRAYING FOR HOLY HALF MIRACLES!

Part of our area is corn fields and cattle farms...the other part is fancy 3000 sqft homes...Quite the contrast if you ask me.

Also sleep. Sleep is really important and right now my body just wants more and more of it. It's like a little kid and candy. Only not quite as tameable. Oh well. I'm going to be blessed for the work I'm doing right?

I can officially say that I have a recipe from my mission. A member gave us a recipe for eggs on toast. Pretty much amazing. Not something I'll have every day, and not something to be had with orange juice, but it's yummy.

Sister Martineau

I'M GETTING TRANSFERRED!!!

I'm getting the boot! New area, new people to see, new address. I'll let you all know the updates when I figure it all out.

THIS MEANS DON'T SEND CHRISTMAS UNTIL YOU GET THE NEW ADDRESS!!!

Things I'm going to miss about Montgomery...

Matthew 25.

We check paint to make sure it is good and then pour it into big drums.

LOVE this girly. Arin is the head of the paint Department and we are her favorites. And she's ours too.

Going out with Bradi! She's amazing. Lots of fun and keep your fingers crossed that she gets her mission call soon! Legally blind but that doesn't get her down!

And visiting Sister Prince. She's like my grandma...I love talking with her and singing Christmas songs!

I'm excited about all the new adventures that I'm going to be having and can't wait to see what's going to happen tomorrow.

Sister Martineau

Turkey Week!!

Whoa what a week! it was lots of funs! We got fed at Sister Wernke's house. She's pretty much amazing and has a family just about as crazy as the Martineau's...I didn't know that was possible. But it was lots of fun!

Anyways, are you ready all? Here's my picture filled email!

Jesus Loves You!
Thrifting Adventure
Sketchy Chinese
Skyline Chili!
Drive Through Investigator Finding!

When we were on our way into a thrift store we found this...


And when four Sister Missionaries sees something awesome, we can't help but take a selfie.


And we all know that when you go thrifting you find something AMAZING. This time we found a kilt.



And Sister Abrams lost 30 pounds on the Missionary Diet!


We also found a hole in the wall Chinese Place called Little Shanghai. It was good and none of us got sick because Sister Abrams asked for us not to get sick from it in the blessing.




And I had Skyline for the first time! IT was REALLY good. Sorry Cincinnati's stereotype of westerner's...I like Skyline.


We were going to a less when it feel through our member Sister decided that we couldn't go into the liquor store, but she could. And since she was our ride...we we were along for the ride.



I hope all of you has some fun as a week as I did! If not you should try harder. Fun is out there it's time to start having some.

Love Sister Martineau!