Cilene's Baptism

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow, that is so awesome that all the cousins came with Grandpa and Grandma to the Cedar City Temple open house.  I just looked at more of the pictures online and it looks beautiful!  And the columbine blossom windows and the details make it look so perfect!  It truly is a house of the Lord! And that is so amazing you, mom and dad, both got to lead groups with non members. Dad if we get the chance, I can't wait to go home teaching with you or maybe my last day as a missionary we can go tracting together because I really feel like I understand so much more of the gospel just like you, and I know this church is true!

 

The other day, right before we returned home from the church, one of the sisters in the Relief Society needed help to call Salt Lake about a problem in her family tree and how the ordinances of her father were missing.  There weren't any family history workers working at this time who spoke Spanish so I got to be a translator and it was super cool! I talked to an elderly missionary in English, and then I talked to the family in Spanish. Wow, I am grateful to say that I know the language or at least I can speak it and understand it!!

Also, this past Saturday we were walking past a man who looked really sad so we stopped and talked to him.  It turns out he was from Sucre and had just gone through a lot.  Having troubles at home, he left his family and came to Santa Cruz.  When he arrived, he got mugged and beaten up.  A kind police officer took him to his son’s house and because he was a construction worker gave him a lot to use to build himself a temporary house.  When we found this man, he was so beaten up emotionally, but we testified to Him of Christ’s love for him.  Seeing that he needed help, we stayed with him for about two hours to help him frame his house.  His temporary house isn´t much. It is pretty much a little shed and it doesn't have walls and he is working on the roof.  But this day we felt like we were on the Lord's errand.  I know the Savior lives and loves all of his children and answers prayers by using others!! This man´s name is Diego, and we are going to keep visiting him.  Will you please keep him in your prayers?

It is super funny here in the super Hipermaxis they are already ready for Christmas!! It is amazing how fast time is flying.

Marianella y Cilene

This week, I got sick! Oh wow, it was an adventure. I am not quite sure what did it, but a really nice investigador offered us food from her mini on the side restaurant, and we didn't want to offend her so we ate it.  It was really yummy. The next night I felt terrible and my companion and I went to the church to give a baptismal interview.  Before the investigator got to the church, I asked Elder Hansen if he would give me a blessing.  During the blessing, he blessed me to get better and that I would have the strength to go through the interview.  Right after the blessing, I rushed to a trash can and threwwww uppp alot!! But after I felt so good.  And right after that adventure, the investigator came and the interview went great! Friday, my companion and I rested and by Saturday I was all better again.  I know the Heavenly Father loves us and that priesthood blessings work and cleanse us from bad illnesses!  

Also, Cilene got baptized this week, and my companion was able to baptize her and I was able to confirm her. Satan sure worked hard, but the Lord always wins.  A member offered to help us pick Cilene up for her baptism, but when we got the house of the member he had gotten very ill and so we left praying for a miracle. Then a taxi drove right past us, and so we flagged it down and went and picked up Cilene and Marianella.  When we got to the church, Cilene´s baptismal clothes didn't fit and so then we didn´t know what do. But we trusted in the Lord and one of the young women let her borrow a extra white shirt she had, and somehow the young women got the clothes to work! It was amazing to see my companion say the words, ´´Habieindo comisionado por Jesucristo, yo te bautizo en el nombre del Padre y del Hijo, y del Espíritu Santo.´´  After her baptism and confirmation, you could see the spirit brightly in Cilene´s eyes.  I know this church is true and this is the Lord’s work and it is our work too!

Love,

Elder Matheson

 

Our Great Ward

Next to our house they are building and constructing an almost BYU house!  Go cougars!

 

When I was sick my companion and I had a day to rest.  While we where eating lunch, we watched Meet the Mormons.  The great thing about getting sick is wow, I lost more weight!! Not very fun but it works!