Lee Martinson

1978 to 1980

One of the most memorable experiences and lessons learned in the mission, came in the mining town of Colquiri. The church was very new in Colquiri. I believe I was only the 7^th elder to be stationed there. That being the case, the members were very new to the gospel. Thus, us elders ran the branch as well as dong missionary work. One of us was the branch president and so forth.

Often we had to come up with talks on the spur of the moment. One Sunday, we were having what felt like a particularly good Sacrament meeting, when the young men’s president came staggering in drunk, shouting profanities. He was angry because he said the Sunday school president was having an affair with his wife, the Relief Society President.

If this doesn’t seem very positive so far, hang in there, and it gets better at the end. Something happened later that was very sacred to me.

I took control of the meeting and I asked my very strong companion to escort the inebriated member home, which was only about a block away. Meanwhile, I tried to rescue what was left.

When my companion came back, I asked if he got the member home ok. He said that when they got there, the gate was locked. They had a wall surrounding their home and front yard. The wall was about 6 feet high.  So I inquired as to what he then did. He said, “I threw him over the wall.” I just shook my head. No, that was not the sacred part of this story.

We got the meeting ended somehow. Later that evening after dusk I got to thinking about the day.  I was so disgusted, frustrated and mad at what a crazy branch we had to manage, that I told my companion that I needed to go for a walk, and asked him to come with me.

We set out up the mountain side until we were quite a ways above the town. We sat there in silence on the mountain side, with the town looking so peaceful down below.

As I mused upon the ridiculous day, I again had angry thoughts about the members, and thought, “How are we supposed to grow a branch with this stuff going on?”

Suddenly, the spirit overcame me and spoke to my mind. “They are new to the gospel and need your love right now, not your judgment. Have patience. How oft have I needed to have patience with your Elder Martinson? Just love them.

Suddenly as I looked down below, Colquiri became as if it were the little town of Bethlehem to me and peace came to my heart even as tears came to my eyes.

Imagine how hard a lot of their lives were and how well they were progressing, and how much humility they had to teach a young stupid overly proud American once I listened.

I love the Bolivian people.

Conrad V. Blake Enrique Kidman