Rain, Rain and More Rain!

Dear Family and Friends!

Wow, that is so amazing - the Cedar City Temple.  I saw the video the church has done about it today and it made me so happy.  It looks beautiful and perfect.  I can´t wait to go with you all there as a family.

Also the showers at the hospital inspection sounded pretty amazing.  Here dad there are no building inspectors and all the buildings are made of bricks and cement.  And you don´t need a building permit, just the material.  I think you would like here!

This week was amazing and really fast and full of many adventures.

​First off the rain!  Friday it was really hot, and we were teaching a lesson with Carlos´ dad.  Then the wind changed directions and a cold wind from the south blew in a crazy rain storm in about 20 minutes.  It poured and poured.  My companion and I ran to our house and got our irrigation boots, with our umbrellas, and then we went back to work. In some parts of our area it was just like creek walking! 

​Also, Hermana Rodriguez bought me a shoulder rest, and now I can really play the violin.  Before I was using a wash cloth and rubber bands.

​Dad it is the season of watermelon, and we eat some good watermelon about everyday for lunch.  Yummy!

​Michael, I found a GNC in Bolivia!!

​Today for a district activity, we watched Tarzan!  It was so fun.  Everyone also got some good faces when Tarzan kissed Jane. :) 

Elder Hansen and I taught Familia Artiaga about banana splits.  The chocolate syrup here is really expensive so we used caramel instead! I love this family so much!  They are an example of how the gospel blesses and changes lives.

 
  
 

As for the other adventures this week...well, Carlos´ dad didn't feel his son was prepared to be baptized this week so we didn't receive his permission.  But his dad said when son has learned more and has more desire to be baptized he will gladly support him.  So we are going to be working extra hard with Carlos and help him really read and pray to know that the Book of Mormon is true and that this is Christ’s church.

Also, This Sunday a lot of our investigadores couldn't attend church because this week is a memorial week where in the Catholic tradition and much of the tradition of the here people clean and visit the graves of their ancestors.  But Johan attended church.  He is 17 years old and loves to read and really wants to follow Christ.  If you could keep praying for Johan, Carlos Bryan, Sielene, and Marcos that would be amazing!

I know that Christ lives and that He loves us and this is His church.  Sorry this email is really, really short.

Love,

Elder Matheson!

Toads and Frogs

Dear Family and Friends!

This week it was super hot until Thursday afternoon, and within 30 minutes, a 

huge rain storm blew in and it poured and poured.  The water built up so fast on the window wells that it started entering in.  So we moved everything out of those two rooms. That night it got colder and rained more and we used our good old irrigation boots to go preach the gospel.  I loaned mine to my companion and used these smaller boots that barely covered my ankles (not really boots). My companion and I were at the farthest part of our area visiting Hermana Marinella.  There was a small canal that runs by this area about two or three feet deep and was overflowed with water and we couldn't see where the bridge was.  Because my companion had the better boots, he went first to find the way and goosh, he fell right into the canal and got from his pants down soaked.  We both laughed super hard as well as the people who lived next to this canal.  As we returned from visiting Ronald, a recent convert, we found that all the streets were even more flooded and so we took it like men and just picked one street and ran through it has fast as possible.  With water splashing everywhere and huge toads and frogs jumping and singing everywhere, it made quite the sight! After that, we took a torito to go back to our house. I sure love mission adventures!

 

Also, Carlos was going to travel with his family this week so we moved the baptism to the next week, but because of the rain they didn't go.  We are praying that this week he will be baptized.  Also, Silene didn’t come to church so we were both a little sad.  Sometimes satan has his small victories, but none the less, Christ and His Gospel will win! This week we are going to go and pick up Silene for church so that in 2 weeks she can be baptized too!  Please keep them in your prayers.  

Also, we have a new investigador, Ramiro who is 19 years old and likes to draw who wants to be baptized.  He has a  baptismal date for the 11 of November too! And Family Gil are super amazing.  The dad, Jovani, loves to talk to us in English, and when he talks, he has a Russian accent.  He and his family are golden.  They just need to get married first!  Yesterday, we taught them about the importance of baptism using the Book of Mormon.  They asked about their baptism in the Catholic church, and then that is where everything fell into place as we were able to testify of a need of the restauracion because the doctrine of baptism was changed and distorted to where many people believe that infants and young children need baptism.  After seeing baby Emma and reading the words of Mormon, I know with my heart the children are pure and alive in Christ and that baptism is for all of us who sin when we are accountable for our sins. Thus, if the Book of Mormon is true, Joseph was a profet, and again the Lord has restored his true church with the authority to baptize his children.  We invited them to pray to know if the Book of Mormon is true and if they should be baptized.  I know that according to their faith they will receive an answer!  Please pray for them too!

Moses 6: 31-34

• Pearl of Great Price

31 And when Enoch had heard these words, he bowed himself to the earth, before the Lord, and spake before the Lord, saying: Why is it that I have found favor in thy sight, and am but a lad, and all the people hate me; for I am slow of speech; wherefore am I thy servant?

32 And the Lord said unto Enoch: Go forth and do as I have commanded thee, and no man shall pierce thee. Open thy mouth , and it shall be filled, and I will give thee utterance, for all flesh is in my hands, and I will do as seemeth me good.

33 Say unto this people: Choose ye this day, to serve the Lord God who made you.

34 Behold my Spirit is upon you, wherefore all thy words will I justify; and the mountains shall flee before you, and the rivers shall turn from their course; and thou shalt abide in me, and I in you; therefore walk with me.

These scriptures really helped me know the Lord knows we all are weak.  But as we trust in him and obey his commandments by preaching his gospel, he will help us as we walk with Him in His work and through the trials we face in this life!

Love your son,

Elder Matheson

Transfer 2 With Elder Hansen!

Dear Mom and Dad and My Family and Friends,

Time flew by so fast.  Elder Hansen and I ended our first transfer together, and Saturday night the Zone Leaders called and let us know that we don’t have transfers.  But in our district, they are going to be opening up another area in the Colorado, and so our district now is going to have 8 missionaries!  

Also, this Wednesday we had a Zone conference and I got to play the arrangement of Savior Redeemer of My Soul. I was not able to line up a time to practice with the singers and the pianist and so it was going to be a pretty spontaneous performance, but the Lord sure helped us and we stayed together and it sounded great!

Also, in this Zone Conference,  President Rodriguez taught us about the importance of the Sabbath Day and that as we make this day holy by showing respect to God in our actions, thoughts, and words, He will bless us.  Also, something really doctrinal we learned was how Heavenly Father is perfect and can keep working without getting tired, but He and His Son set the example for us by resting on the Sabbath day. So the principle of rest and remembering God is a divine, heavenly principle.  And to emphasize this importance, the Savior did not tell Moses the 10 Commandments but He wrote them in stone with His celestial hand.  Wow, how important is it that we attend church and that we remember the Savior, Jesus Christ, by taking of the sacrament each week so that we can "always have his spirit" to be with us.

The Colorado Zone!

Also, Marianella and Paola are doing great!  We are working on teaching Silene, Marianella’s sister and preparing her for baptism.  And also this Saturday we have an investigador named Carlos Bryan, who is going to be baptized. He is 17 years old and has been attending church this past 3 weeks and wants to be baptized.  He has been reading the Book of Mormon and feels good every time he reads it, but still doesn't feel he has received an answer all the way.  Please remember them in your prayers this week.

I know that the Lord Jesus Christ is our Savior and that He loves each of us so much and that this is His work!  And he needs everyone of his disciples to preach the gospel!

Love,

Elder Matheson!

P.S.  My camera died, but I will send pictures next week!

1 Year Mark and 2 Baptisms!!

Dear Mom, Dad, Family and Friends!  

Baby Emma looks so cute.  I love her baby blue eyes.  Here in Bolivia you would love it mom, and dad you would not like it.  It is getting hoooot!  This week it was 88 degrees but with about pure 100 percent humidity so it felt like about 100 degrees.  We are drinking so, so much water, and we are sweating and sweating so much.  Here you can´t see a change in the color of the trees leaves with seasons just the trees give different fruit at the time of the year.   The mangoes are close to being ripe.  Yummy!

As for this week, it was so so fast, sometimes a little stressful but full of many miracles.  Thank you so much for all your prayers.  This Saturday we had two baptisms and two baptismal services (that was a first).

Elder Hansen, Marianella & Elder Matheson

Marianella studies in the afternoon and her parents don´t like her to leave the house at night so we held her baptism at 10:30 in the morning!  

 

This day we woke up early and went and cleaned the church and prayed a lot.  But I know Heavenly Father hears our prayers because the baptismal service was divinely organized.  At moments when I was really worried if everything would work out, I felt the sweet words come to my mind,  ´´Trust in the Lord. You can’t do this by yourself.´´  I know that as we trust in the Lord and not in our own flesh, as Nephi puts it, he will work miracles among us.

The service for Marianella was beautiful, and she ask me to baptize her and my companion to confirm her.  As she came up out of the baptismal font, she took a big gasp and told us, ´´ Que tranquilidad, Que tranquilidad!´´ or what tranquility, what tranquility.  She was so happy, and Sunday my companion gave her a wonderful blessing and confirmed her a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and gave her the Holy Ghost. I am so grateful that the Lord led us to Marianella through her friends inviting her to a ward activity.  

Marianella and Her Friends

She is truly a miracle convert, and I know that through her baptismal covenant she truly has received a remission of her sins!

Also that night, we had the baptism service of Hna. Paola!  And her son, a recent convert for 6 months, was able to baptize her!  

Hermana Paola, Her Son, & Us Prior To Her Baptism

I love our ward. They sure support us so much, and I am so grateful that she entered into this sacred covenant with the Lord.  Our goal is now to baptize her husband!

Our Supportive Ward

I hope you have a great week and enjoy the snow/cold and Halloween season for me!

Love,

Elder Matheson!

Getting Some P-Day Exercise

Conference Is The Best!

Dear Family and Friends!

Thank you so much for the hump day pictures.  (Elder Matheson celebrates one year in the mission field this week!) That made me so happy, and I feel old.  Dad, my companion and I carried on the tradition of watching the World Report in between conference sessions together. I was hoping for maybe a good view of the Cedar Temple, but I bet they will come after the cultural celebration and dedication in the next conference.  Also, the four of us Elders in our apartment bought two liters of ice cream.  After priesthood session we ate one, and Sunday night we ate the other. It was supper yummy.  

After Conference Ice Cream - Here the ice cream is super, super creamy and not as sweet but still super good!

Watching conference together. It was amazing!

Elder Lefgren, my old district leader and friend, is there and me and my two boys... Elder Hansen and Elder Barazoto and his companion, my grandson in the missionary world, Elder Beezer.

As for this week, it was so amazing!  We have been teaching Hna. Paula and Marinella a lot, and they are going to be baptized this Saturday.  We have their interviews scheduled and they both are so excited.  Thank you for remembering them in your prayers, and please keep praying for them that we can teach them all they need to know before their baptism in time and that they can overcome Satan and his last minute fouls that he always tries to throw in.

This Thursday,  President and Sister Rodriguez came to our district meeting.  Oh wow, that sure made me nervous. During the meeting we shared our testimonies and about our investigadores and the importance of working with the ward missionaries, the bishop, the ward mission leader, and all the members.  (Good job mom and dad on inviting those families to conference!!!!). At the end of the meeting, President said that I did a good job and that I had a great district with a good district leader.  That made my day.

Also, it is so special to see how references from members are truly golden, and according to the statistics of the church, about 50% of all the references of members of their friends are baptized.  Both Hermana Paula y Marinella y Selene are references. Marinella and Selene are references of a 15 year old girl named Caroline, who invited them to our movie night where we watched Meet The Mormons. From there we visited them with Caroline, and we found that they were both prepared for the gospel!  I sure would like to invite everyone to heed the counsel of the apostles and prepare and invite one person or as many people as you can to hear the gospel, for there are so many people prepared and are just waiting for the opportunity to hear it.

As stated by Elder Ballard in conference,  ´´There is no greater blessing than to share the message of the restauracion of the gospel to another child of God.´´

´´Before we came to earth, we were given specific assignments.´´ We need to look for and ask the Lord, ´´Lord what is my personal ministry?´´ Elder John C. Pingree

At every church meeting the Lord desires us to look around at our peers and find and help those who are lonely and need a friend.  Ask ourselves, ´´Who needs me today?´´ - Sister Bonnie L Oscarson

Wow, conference is the best!

I sure love you all and hope you have the best week!

Love Elder Matheson

 

Saturday morning Gael tried on our suits.  He looks like a great future missionary.