Elder and Sister Martin Micronesia and India Missions: Mango - Movie

Mango season is winding down. We have enjoyed the delicious varieties of mangoes; eating one every morning during the past few months. They are so delicious! Got a big surprise when I Started eating this Mango and big beetles started crawling out of the seed in the center. Almost ate one. I saw two and threw it away before finding out it there were more family members inside.

Sister Martin and I decided to host a single adult movie night for our local ward. After spreading the word, they asked us to change it to a multi-ward or Stake event. I created a flyer featuring a movie called, "Saratov Approach". There was some good information online including some lesson ideas that we were going to discuss with the group. A week before the movie night, Elder Evans of the Seventy saw one of our flyers and suggested we change the movie. We searched and found another movie called, "Praise To The Man", a docudrama about William W. Phelps and Joseph Smith Jr., which included the First Vision and other historical scenes in the restoration of the Church of Jesus Christ.

Socializing with Biryani Rice

It ended up being really good that we changed the movie. One young man introduced himself and his friend to us. His friend had never been to our church and enjoyed the introduction the movie offered.

Many others came up and said how much they learned about church history that they didn't know before. Another said he didn't realize how much persecution the early members of the church endured.

One sister came up to us and said she was so happy we had the event. She had moved from Hyderabad city to Bengaluru 11 months ago for a job and didn't really have any friends here. She also said she hadn't been attending church because she didn't want to come alone, but was now planning to come. We saw her in church the next day.

After the movie we all ate some Biriyani Rice with chicken and socialized.

Yes, we had SPICY POPCORN during the movie.

Everyone, including us, seemed to have a lot of fun.

Elder Martin talking to Sam after the movie

I talked with Sam after the movie. Sam was a member of our missionary prep class. He recently received his mission call to serve in our mission and is very excited to begin next month.

I created a flyer that we posted to advertise the movie night.

Many thanked us for having this activity and said that they hadn't had a Stake event for singles for about two years. Hopefully, we can do another one in about a month. Perhaps a service project.

Sister Martin's temporary companion and a yummy dinner.

Lunch time....sharing my jokes I like to tell. This joke is about the man who is about to die and is just reaching up to get one of his wife's chocolate chip cookies for the last time, but I changed it to include the Indian culture and said Biriyani.

Elder Ramishetty concluding his mission....Sending a box home

More farewells to departing missionaries, Elder Hansen and Elder Farley above, Elder Ramishetty, Elder Slater and Elder Hancock below.

Singing at Stake choir practice.

We joined Elder and Sister Hurst for a public affairs meeting. We also enjoyed a fun dinner and then lunch after a meeting the next day. We don't really have much time for Public Affairs yet. Hopefully soon.