Missionary Prep, A Missionary Reunion and more

Enjoying one of the new Book of Mormon Videos with the sister missionaries. One of these short videos is released every Friday.

Link Book of Mormon video series news

These videos have inspired us to be more faithful as we face our daily challenges.

We have a blank wall in our apartment which works well with our old projector we brought.

Two prospective missionaries came in the mission office several days ago and said they had questions filling out their Full-Time Missionary application.

Both of them showed us that their Doctor had signed the application, but asked them to fill in the blanks. They had lab work done with a printed report so that part was easy to fill in. We then noticed that their pulse and BP were left blank. So, I decided to help out. They called me "Dr. Martin." Sister Martin pulled out her phone and took some pictures of me checking them out.

More great missionaries will soon be on their way to serve the Lord Jesus Christ in this great cause of helping, serving and strengthening others.

The Bangalore Stake hosted a mission reunion on a recent holiday. All return missionaries were invited to come and wear their old missionary name badge. Of course, full-time missionaries including us still work on holidays so we were in the mission office next to the stake center while the event was going on. We dropped in on the events from time to time.

They all took a picture in front of the mission office.

Not sure, Perhaps a game about the putting on the full armor of God?

It appeared everyone had a great time at the reunion event. Also a time to reflect, reminisce and recommit to serving better in their own respective callings and wards.


Another missionary ready to depart for the India New Delhi Mission

This nice brother came by the mission office during the Missionary reunion and introduced himself as a friend of one of our friends who is a member of our old ward back in Heber City, Utah.

Looks like we have a nice lake in front of our apartment building, a rather picturesque view. But, no. It had rained so much it caused a lake.

One of the missionaries said it looked like you could go fishing there.

There is actually a nice grass lawn under the water.

Of course it was an interesting walk from the office to the apartment. We sure are getting some use out of the rubber boots our family sent us.

During another walk home we experienced some interesting motorcycle traffic that were off-roading around both sides of us. I took this short video. I still find it hard to believe how common this kind of practice is here.

Family/Grandchildren reactions to our walk home

We actually don't feel unsafe on our mission perhaps due to so many prayers for us. We are humbled and grateful to many who pray for our safety and that we may accomplish our tasks that we have volunteered to do. So excited to be here and serving in so many ways and areas.

The following is a fun clip talking about prayers for Grandma and Grandpa.

Couple's Conference, Visak and more great missionaries

Senior Couple's conference

We all got together to discuss various things about the mission. Most of it was meetings but the pictures taken were from a couple of side venues that were planned during the two day event.

Arriving at the Sheraton Hotel for dinner with the Senior couples - Sunil and his wife were invited to join the group. Sister Goodsell was always trying to hide from the camera.

Grabbed a quick picture with President and Sister Thomas

Sister Martin gazing at a beautiful flower display in the Lobby

The next day we went to the Lal Bagh Botanical Gardens in Bangaluru

Even had a little rain to freshen up the gardens.

It was a huge gardens and with limited on time, we rented their shuttle.

Time for another group photo - Where's President Thomas?

Probably reading letters. He received 80 or 90 letters per week from the missionaries that he reads and replies to many.

Some of the trees were hundreds of years old.

The mango tree in video below is about 250 years old.

The Famous ELEPHANT TREE - See the elephant trunk branch?

The entire tree.

Then a final stop at the Bangalore Palace

Visited the Visakhapatnam Zoo

Deer

A Water Monitor Lizard

This elephant was not just on display but busy working for the zoo

The rare White Tiger. Some say there use to be over 100,000 and now estimated at under 4,000 in the world.

Two future missionaries from our mission prep class...

Good to see Elder, now Brother Kora

While in Visak we went over to the Sister's apartment. A week or two back their smoke detector went off even though they never smelled smoke. The originally thought it was Carbon Monoxide but then confirmed the alarm was smoke. To make sure it wasn't a false alarm they borrowed the Zone Leader's smoke detector and it went off too. Moved them in to a hotel temporarily until a solution could be found. The next day the smoke detectors still were alarming. Two different professionals went over and never found the cause. The next day, the detectors both showed normal and no alarms. When we went to their apartment we checked the detector, a new one, and looked around the apartment and surroundings for a clue. Still no clue as to why it went off. Sisters are happy and healthy and still talking about the great food the hotel served that was included.

Sister Panner, Sister Shanmugam and Sister Paduru

Sister Panner gave a great talk on forgiveness at church. Listen to part of it and her personal experience. It really touched our hearts. 

Elder Mecham gave a great talk during the 1st branch meeting

Elder Sekar, to the right of Elder Kola, gave a great talk on forgiveness at the 2nd branch

Elder Edwards gave a great talk during the 1st branch meeting

Custom made suits - $34? - MLC and more

Yes. On our last trip up to Visakhapatnam I was told by some of the younger missionaries that they purchased inexpensive suits. They looked pretty good to me so I thought I would give it a try. The finished product - we posed in this pic with the Sisters.

We entered this shop down in the basement. It was quite hot, no air conditioning and the lights kept going out but I decided to go through with it.

I started by picking out the material. Then they measured me and a week later it would be finished. I asked the Senior couple to pick it up and send it back with the mission president on his next trip there. Not bad at all.

It doesn't fit perfectly but not bad for the price. $34.00

We also bought this Elephant tie on Amazon India and now ready to go, all Sunday clothes now made in India.


After lunch with our friend Arvind.

Visited the family of a new friend who has been visiting and interested in the restored Gospel of Jesus Christ and our church lately.

They gave us a wonderful dinner.

Like so many other people do, one day she dropped by our church. She had been investigating other Christian churches and was looking for the truth. She came in the mission office and talked with us about the restoration of the gospel and the Holy Ghost. We talked about the peace, calm, still small voice of the spirit and how we can receive answers regarding truth from the Holy Ghost. She shared experiences she has had and also how she almost got baptized at another church, but then she felt that it wasn't right As we continued talking, we could feel the warmth and clarity of the Holy Ghost touch her heart. 

She later told the young missionaries that she wanted to immediately join our church. They answered and said there are things she needs to learn and accept and various steps to take before she could be baptized.


This is the lunch room upstairs in the Service Center where we eat lunch sometimes.

Invited the mission driver and his family over for dinner and a scripture related movie.

I made my Coconut Thai Chicken Curry and Teriyaki Chicken. They seemed to like it even though they said they had never tasted anything like it before.

We all had a fun evening together. Aren't they cute?

After Sunday school class I took this picture of our friend.

Mission Leadership Council (MLC) Pictures

The mission cook, cooks for the mission president, meetings like MLC and us.

The kitchen in the mission home

Took a few pictures after MLC lunch. Shows the view of the church from the mission home.

Then we got ready for a group photo.

Afterwards there's always a lot to do in the mission office. Always questions to answer, reimbursements for expenses and more.

Sister Martin saw these two Elders in the Distribution Center store.

Back to the airport to catch flights to their respective areas.

The gardeners added some new plants on the roof top terrace of the mission home/office so we decided to take a look.

Different views from different angles, a lot to see from up here.

Saw this fun little chipmunk on the wall of the church.

Our view just outside the church on the sidewalk - they are building a new Metro station. Almost a sunset beginning in the background.

Went to a nice dinner at the mall and had a new curry chicken. This place was called Copper Chimney.

Sister Martin decided to try the lamb curry. It was also good but we both prefer the chicken curry.

At the end of a long day we had the opportunity to see a beautiful Bengaluru, India Sunset.