First Greeting of Stripling Warriors of India

Now that we're helping out in the office (temporarily), we are meeting so many of the young missionaries. Each have different backgrounds and have amazing testimonies of Jesus Christ and the restoration of the Gospel.

They are all here in India as volunteers and have sacrificed much to be here.

Some of the leaders recently joined together to help strengthen each other and discuss the challenges they face and receive council from the Mission President and his wife.

Gun Powder and drinking from a test tube??

We visited one of the other Senior Couples, Elder and Sister Briggs. They are from Idaho. During this time we had the opportunity to stay at a hotel that offered a free (adventurous) buffet breakfast with more amazing India cuisine, and foods we have never tried before.

GUN POWDER??

I sprinkled some "Gun Powder" on some of the food and drank some green Bittergourd juice that was served in test tubes. I was a little worried so I asked what the gun powder was. They couldn't tell me but assured me that it wasn't used for actual guns. They thought the word "Gun" was from the Telugu language.

Fresh Bittergourd Juice

The test-tube concoction was rather intriguing. I Googled what Bittergourd was and found it is actually quite healthy for you. We both enjoyed other exotic juices made from local foods such as carrot-beetroot juice.

I had them make me a "Dosa" with Masala inside. They offered several flavorful Chutney sauces. The red one that looked super spicy was actually sweet and mild. Sister Martin even put it on her Omelet.

Dosa - The Gun powder is to the left of the fried chili pepper

Chutney sauces and other delights

We enjoyed our P-day with the Briggs. We not only saw some interesting sights, but they showed us the church building. There was a meeting going on there and we met a few of the members. The Elder and Sister missionaries were also there teaching someone.

Walking along the beach - There is a heard of goats in the background

Enjoyed viewing some Bonsai at a park

FSM (below), almost resembles where we served our last mission in the (FSM) Federated States of Micronesia. But in this case it is a restaurant called, "The Flying Spaghetti Monster". It was pretty good.

We ate lunch at another interesting restaurant

A local bathroom

Driving along with the cows and water buffalo

Expect the Unexpected

As many of you know, we were called to be "Public Affairs" missionaries for the Bengaluru, India and Sri Lanka Mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. Here in India, it is actually called the India Society of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.

After we had been here just a few days, Elder and Sister Hansen, the Mission Office couple, had some family emergencies and had to go home. So, we have been asked to temporarily fill in and help in the Mission Office. We will still be doing a some public affairs work but that of course will be limited until someone replaces us.

Expect the Unexpected - Our short training in the office began

After a few partial days of training, We said good bye to the Hansens. We had a good time with them during the short time we spent together.

With Elder and Sister Hansen at the Office

We enjoyed watching all of the preparation and celebration of the Hindu Diwali Festival and Holidays. The festivities look a little like July 4th in the US because they have fireworks and also like Christmas because people put up lights everywhere.

Having a farewell dinner with the Hansens

It's Curry Heaven in India. They recommended Zabardust Chicken and it was amazing. They said the word Zabardust means excellent in Hindi and the Urdu languages.

Part of the menu

Some local snacks

Visited a mall - A little Panda train entertains children

Back to the office. We love helping in the mission.

Arrival to India

Getting dropped off at the Salt Lake City airport to catch our flight to India. We had 4 bags (about 49 lbs. each) plus our carry-on's. 

At the airport and ready for the marathon flight to India.

About 30 hours later we walked out of the airport in India and were met by Elder and Sister Hansen. Apartment accommodations were not located yet so we were told we would be staying with the Hansens for a while.

Since side walks are almost non-existent, we mostly use the street to walk from the apartment to the mission home and mission office, dodging cars and scooters. Some areas we could move off the street and find some dirt paths or broken curbs next to the road to walk on.

One day we walked to a modern mall and decided to hop on one of those three wheeled covered motor cycles called Autos, to go to back to the mission office. The driver veered in and out of the congested traffic. Quite an interesting adventure. 

In the three wheeled covered motor cycle - no seat-belts.

Arriving at Whitefield Road, the busy street that we walk to the Mission office and church. 

At the gate in front of the church. I think it says The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Kannada.

Elder and Sister Hansen's apartment is quite adequate. We are staying in their extra bedroom currently.

This is a nice apartment for India standards - We are grateful to have a place to stay

Call to India, Preparation and Mission Reunions

We received an email regarding our call to India while on vacation in Taormina, Italy. Sister Martin was going through her emails, and all at once she screamed! Sister Martin's Brother and Sister in law heard the scream from the other room and asked if everything was alright. She said she was fine and continued to read the email.

Taormina, Italy where we found out about our call to India

Sister Hansen from the Mission Office in Bengaluru, India had written, congratulating us on accepting our call to India. Our actual call letter had not arrived to our mail box back home. We had our family checking every other day or so but nothing had come.

When we arrived back home we opened our actual call letter. It said we would serve as Public Affairs missionaries. Elder and Sister Berg of the Public Affairs department had also sent us an email regarding our call while on vacation.

About a month prior to our departure date, we enjoyed a week of Public Affairs Training with three other couples in Salt Lake City, Utah hosted by Elder and Sister Berg. It was valuable training, giving us a glimpse of what our service might involve when we arrive to India. They emphasized that one of our main focuses should be to make friends.

Public Affairs - Elder and Sister Williams, Elder and Sister Burton, Elder and Sister Martin, Elder and Sister Adams

On October 22, 2018 we entered the Missionary Training Center in Provo, Utah. This was our second time to the MTC together. We loved the special spirit we felt and the overall experience. They did pack in a very busy schedule which was quite tiring at times. We were there with nearly 40 couples. Some were serving in the United States and others to far away places like Russia, Iraq, Adriatic countries and more.

The day we arrived

In front of the world map pointing to Bengaluru, India.

Elder and Sister Martin pictured with some of the other faithful missionary couples with us at the MTC (3 groups)

One day we had the opportunity to tour the new training building. There were several large beautiful back-lit murals that we observed. Our group spent some time in front of the mural showing Moses leading the Children of Israel through the parted Red Sea. It was fantastic as we discussed our thoughts and feelings about the painting.

Moses and the children of Israel walking through the parted Red Sea

The Brother of Jared making the stones that would later be touched by the finger of the Lord to give light to the barges

A mural depicting the story of Esther from the Holy Bible

While at the MTC, Sister Martin and I joined the MTC choir and sang in the Tuesday evening devotional. We were blessed to have been there with Elder Ulisses Soares of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles. Both he and his wife spoke to us. His talk included excerpts from the missionaries who taught his family when he was only five years old. It was amazing.

Elder Ulisses Soares

Our MTC experience was very uplifting and challenging. We were part of a small district of four couples that we spent time with. We found many connections. For example, Elder and Sister Jones mentioned that one of their children married one of Bob and Annette Priddis's children. Bob and Annette had recently returned from serving as the office couple in the Bengaluru, India mission. Bob Priddis is my 1st cousin. A few weeks earlier, we had spent a Sunday with them in Big Piney, Wyoming. They gave us various insights about India and the Mission.

Brother Brock (teacher), Elder and Sister Jones, Elder and Sister Bales, Elder and Sister Rampton (not shown) 

Earlier in the Month of October, we had the opportunity of going to our two Micronesia Guam Mission Reunions. One with President and Sister Mecham and then with President and Sister Zarbock. It was great to see so many and reminisce of the wonderful experiences we all had while serving in the islands.

Sister Mecham, Sister Carter, Sister Chandler, Sister Martin

Brother Martin, Brother and Sister Guercio, Brother Thomas, Sister Martin

Sister Martin, Sister Zarbock, Brother Martin

Brother and Sister Hardy

Brother and Sister Batty, Sister and Brother Martin