September 4th, 2016

Dear Family and friends,

It has been a wonderful week of baptisms throughout the mission. One in particular, that we were able to attend, was especially noteworthy. Martha Mary Clinton lives on the hillside in Port of Spain. The walkway to her home has 139 steps! The elders have counted every one of them. Elder Spjut and Elder Lorenzo were in the area one day, making sure that they hadn't missed a single home, when her dogs kept barking out by the fence and she came out to quiet them.  She said she doesn't usually bother to shush her dogs, since they protect her property. That was when she saw a tall white boy and little dark boy in white shirts and ties trudging up her stairs. The elders stopped at her front gate asked if she had a minute to spare for a special message. She said they looked thirsty and tired and she felt sorry for them, so she asked them to join her on the porch and gave them a drink. 

Martha is 70 years old and had been going to several churches over the years hoping to find peace and love. She always felt that she had lived the way God would have her live, but her investigations into various churches always left her with something missing. She said it was like putting a puzzle together and missing the last piece, so she quit going to church and stayed home to read the Bible and pray. She had been praying recently to God to guide her to the truth and then the missionaries found the house with 139 steps. They climbed to the top and found Martha.

In her testimony after her confirmation today she said, "I was searching for love in all the wrong places. Now my son and my granddaughter are listening to the missionary lessons. I know the Book of Mormon is true and I am grateful for the other prophets that I have learned about. I asked the missionaries lots of questions and they always had an answer for me. The Holy Spirit was there in my home and I have had answers to my prayers. I give God all the praise and thank Him for allowing these young men to find my home, share the gospel with me and help me find the missing piece."

She's going to be an amazing addition to the ward in Port of Spain and it was wonderful to get to know her and witness this special conversion. She was glowing today after sacrament meeting and so excited to be part of the "Family of God". Her name is a proper way for you to visualize what she is like. Martha and Mary rolled into one. We hope you had a great Sabbath Day.

Love,

Trini and Dad