Homeward Bound

Dear Mom and Dad and my wonderful family and friends!

This week was amazing! Leonilda, Anahy, and John were baptized! So crazy story. John is 10 years old, and his parents are less active and lived in the ward but then moved to the north mission and this last couple of months have been attending our ward. This week they moved back into our ward boundaries, and John asked Mark, his cousin, who leaves on his mission this Tuesday, to baptize him.

So we coordinated with the family, and in 3 days we taught John all of the lessons. We left him with 3 Nephi 11 to read and we invited him to ask God if the book was true and if he should be baptized this Saturday. He prayed, and the next day he told us, "I think I received an answer because last night I had a dream and I saw God.” The faith of a child is incredible. So this Saturday John was baptized too.

Baptismo de John, Leonilda y Anahy

John

Anahy

Mark and John and their family

Hna Leonilda!

Also Sunday was a bitter-sweet day. I got to say goodby to the wonderful people here in Antofagasta.  Wow,  I cant believe it is my last week.  I feel so happy, sad, and strange.  Yesterday, I said good bye to our amazing ward.  Mark, a joven in our ward, is leaving on the mission this Tuesday so it was a really special sacrament meeting.  Mark talked then Elder Abendaño and I and Hno. Sabatierra sang I'll Go Where You Want Me To Go.  They sang and I played the violin.  Afterward I got to have a tiny farewell talk.  The spirit was so strong during the sacrament meeting, and I felt so happy.  I sure am going to miss this ward.

La familia Salazar

Michael y Indira

Familia Gallardo

Hna Andrea, our pensionista

La familia Paco! They even brought us pizza.

Yesterday we ate soooooo much food. We were stuffed and very happy.

La conferencia with Elder Texeida

As a zone we did an invasion in by a flea market. We printed out smiley faces and taped them on our back and chest and walked around asking people if they wanted to know how to be happy. We sure got a lot of attention and a lot of people listened to us. Some came up and to take pictures with us.

I know that Jesus Christ lives and that His gospel brings us happiness.

Thank you for all your prayers and support. I can’t wait to see you all this Saturday!

Love,

Elder Matheson

P.S. Please keep praying for familia Gallardo. They had some trials this week. Two of their cars of their business were in crashes.

Miracles! The Gallardo Family Was Baptized This Week!

Dear Family and Friends,

This week was full of many miracles, and so much happened.

Elder Teixeira

My 2 pairs of glasses broke within 24hrs. The lens of the Nike glasses fell out, and the sides of the black glasses broke. Ha ha, I think it means I am old in the mission. But we went to the ramanda today and there is a family that loves the missionaries that owns a glasses shop. They fixed my Nike glasses for free, and I bought a really good new frame for my black glasses. They installed the lens in, and now I can see again!

Sorry I didn't write yesterday. Yesterday was the conference with Elder Teixeira (He is one of the new presidents of the 70 and is from Portugal) so they changed our p-day to Tuesday, but the conference was amazing. And the musical number turned out pretty well. Sister Murdock, and I played the violin, Elder Florence was on the piano, and Sister Choque, Sister Dodge, Elder Lopez, and Elder Dubon sang. Sister Choque wrote the music and it was a blend of Jesus Lover of My Soul and I Know That My Redeemer Lives. And get this, I got to use a really nice hand made violin from Beni to play. We played at the first of the conference, and it really brought the spirit!

Here is a picture of one of our practices in the offices.

The most incredible event was that Familia Gallardo was Baptized!!!

Hna. Sandy wanted me to baptize her, and Hno. Humberto asked my companion to baptize him. Sunday Hno. Salazar confirmed them. Many members came and my companion and I performed O My Father to the music of Come Thou Fount. We were dressed in white and singing and playing the violin. After the musical number, the Gallardo family was baptized. At the end of the baptism, Familia Gallardo expressed their testimonies of how they fasted, received an answer from the holy ghost and took the decision to be baptized.


This family was so prepared for the gospel and really built my faith of the power of the Book of Mormon and that God really hears and answers his children´s prayers if they ask in faith!

I forgot to mention that we invited President Rodriguez to come and teach a lesson with us to Familia Gallardo. I was a little nervous, but the lesson was so powerful and Presidente taught them about the importance of eternal marriage.

This scripture sums up the week: D&C 84:88
88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

Thank you for all your prayers, especially for Familia Gallardo. There really were angels helping them and us. Sandy told us that Friday, the day before their baptism, they were invited to a family birthday party. In the party there was wine and alcohol, and their family members kept inviting them to drink. But they didn't give in and didn't drink anything because it was their baptism the next day and because they really want to obey God's commandments!

Seeing the Gallardo Family baptized really helped me see the value of my missionary service and feel God's love for me and them. I know this gospel brings families true happiness. The Gallardo family is a living witness of this!

It's my last week working in my area, and I am going to give my best for the Lord! Lionilda and Anaí are going to get baptized this week. Pray for them and for Marianela and Helen!

Love,

Elder Matheson!

My Brooks have lasted for 3 years!!!


Hna. Willis and I are both finishing the mission and so the zone took a picture of our funeral or that we died


Darinka and William! They are an amazing couple who have helped us so much visiting Marianela!


Practicing for the musical number we played for the baptism of Familia Gallardo

 After the Mission Conference

The Gallardo Family and Fasting!

Dear Family and Friends!

I am on the last, best two weeks of my mission. I wanted to invite you all to my homecoming on the 30th of September at the Midvalley 2nd Ward building located at 40 East Midvalley Road in Enoch, Utah.  Church meetings begin at 1 p.m.

Thank you for all your prayers and support. They help us so much and contribute to miracles!

The greatest miracles we saw this week was with the Gallardo Family. We taught them the doctrine of fasting and how when we fast we come closer to God. We should fast with a purpose and as we do so, with faith, the Lord with bless us and guide us. Sandy expressed how she believed everything that we do in the church is correct but still couldn´t believe the Joseph was a prophet, and Humberto really wants to finish the Book of Mormon and Bible before his baptism. We invited them to fast with us Saturday, and Familia Salazar (their friends in the church) said they would fast too. Familia Gallardo really were shocked when they learned that fasting includes not drinking water but accepted the challenge to fast and to read Alma 32!

The first miracle: Saturday morning it was freezing!!! The weather was perfect and made it easier for everyone to fast

We started our fast with Familia Gallardo after lunch, and the whole day we tried to talk with everyone, to get on time to the leccions, to teach with love and the spirit and show our love to the Lord.

The second Miracle: At night we visited Familia Gallardo and Sandy told us how she had read all of Alma 32 and even Alma 33 and that it answered all of her questions and why they were going through so many trials ever since they have started going to church. Sandy told us that she knew that no farm boy could write such beautiful scripture by himself and that she knew that the Book of Mormon was true and came from God. The spirit was tangible, and the room was filled with so much peace. Family Salazar shared their conversion stories and we invited Sandy and Hno. Humberto to be baptized this Saturday and they accepted!

Fasting coupled with the Book of Mormon brings revelation. After the lesson, my companion and I couldn´t stop smiling, and we knew that this is God´s work!

Please pray for them and for us that they can overcome their trials from their work and family members for their baptism this week!

Also Marianela and Anaí and maybe Lionilda have their goal to be baptized this next week!

Intercambio with Elder Florence. We ate ice cream! Yumm

As a zone we went to a big park and had a BBQ! Hno. Pedro cooked the meat. We played some volleyball and capture the flag with marshmallow guns!

After we went to the Rio Pirai!!! We couldn't play in it but it sure made for a good picture! We have some great elders and sisters in our zone!


I know this is the Lord's work and that also satan will do all in his power to oppose the truth, but Jesus Christ is our Savior and as we keep the commandments and stay on his team, we will triumph!


I hope you have a great week!

Love,

Elder Matheson

Week Full Of Blessings

Dear Family and Friends,

Thank you for all the birthday wishes and the money. It sure made me feel special. I am saving a lot of the money to buy souvenirs these last weeks, but I bought myself 2 new ties! Thanks for the music for my companion.

That is so great to hear the Avery is going on his mission. He is going to be great!

This week, my companion and I worked hard, and the Lord blessed us! Also, it was one of the best birthday weeks ever! The ward sure feed us well, and we ate some much!!

Friday morning I made pancakes for my companion and me.

For lunch Familia Rivera invited us over for Majadito and chocolate cake!!! It was so delicious. Hno. Rivero led his family singing and played the guitar!

He also sang us some fun ranchero songs. Hno. Rivera´s song made me laugh because it’s a man singing about how he wants a compañera (girl companion) I thought wow, that is so right. I hope my next companion is a compañera. No quiero mas compañeros. Haha!!!

Friday night we had an appointment to teach Familia Paco. We are teaching their daughter’s friends. After the lesson they surprised me with another chocolate cake! And it was really chocolate. It is like the 17 dollar cake from Costco. It was so good!

The cake!!!

Sunday Bishop invited us over for lunch. His family are such good people and truly live the gospel and are happy!



Marianela came to church all three hours this week. We have been visiting her with Familia Paco, and she really has been progressing and you can see the difference in her life. On Saturday, the spirit was very strong as we testified of the blessings that come from being baptized and receiving the holy spirit. We promised her that if she took this step of faith she will receive the peace and happiness she is looking for!

Familia Gallardo came to church again. We explained how to fast and this fast Sunday we are going to fast with them so they can receive an answer from God if they should be baptized!

I know this church is of Christ and that as we daily read the Book of Mormon we receive protection and strength from God. If you are having a rough day or if you need comfort or strength or guidance read the Book of Mormon and pray and you will see the difference!

Love,

Elder Matheson

Blessings!

Dear Mom and Dad, Family and Friends!

Thank you for the birthday wishes. They sure mean a lot to me! I know I would not be where I am if it wasn't for you and dad! Hna. Helen sometimes says that she really wants to meet you both because, ´´sus padres tiene que ser muy noble tambien´´ or your parents must be very noble or other honorable/good people, and I just smile and tell her that they are the best!

So one thing that really surprised me is that Hna. Rodriguez told me about a special conference with a 70 the 10th of September, and she asked if I could play the violin for the conference with 4 other missionaries. I told her of course! I am sure excited.

Familia Rivera let us borrow their violin, and I have been teaching my companion. My companion loves the violin, and I have been teaching him at night. He is so dedicated at practicing. Mom can you send me some of the first basic songs that are in the Suzuki book 1 or 2 like Lightly Row and Twinkle Little Star to help him learn more?

This week we have seen miracles.

Tuesday I got sick, I didn't throw up, but it was a tiny flu and cold, but now I am a lot better. The good thing about being sick is that you really appreciate being healthy!

Thursday, we had our Consejo de Lideres. Presidente taught us about the atonement of Jesus Christ. During his capacitacion (training) the room was full of the spirit and revelation.

President taught how satan argued that God's plan would have too many casualties and he argued the Jesus wouldn't be good enough to make a perfect atonement and that we would all be lost. So he proposed his plan. Not one soul of God's children would be lost if God gave satan his glory. Glory meaning power. With this power, satan could take away our agency and force us to do the right and govern us.

But thanks to our Heavenly Father and the example of Jesus Christ, we valiantly fought for the opportunity to come to this earth because we had faith in Christ. Christ came to the earth and atoned for our sins, and now again we must choose to have faith in Christ, that he really redeemed us from our sins! As we live the gospel, we will once again be able to return to our Heavenly Father.

This is just part of what I learned, but it was amazing. I know that our Heavenly Father and Savior, Jesus Christ live and love us!

Humberto and Sandy are doing so well. They went to church again. They really had many doubt about the doctrine of plural marriage but the Lord help us and we were able to explain the doctrine and testify how the Lord call prophets to guide us and will never permit his prophets to lead us astray. Humberto y Sandy want to be baptized but not until after they read all of the Book of Mormon. Please pray for them that they can read the Book of Mormon and have the faith to be baptized.

Anaí, Wilsen, Marianela, and Familia Espejo are progressing too! Marianela doesn´t have nurse training this Sunday so she said she would go to church! Please pray for them too!

Also, we found Rosario and her family. Her son just broke his shoulder and she has to pay for the operation. We talked to bishop, and yesterday the relief society ministered to her and brought her family food and they are going to do a fundraiser for her. She is a really amazing mother, and we are going to help her this week!

My companion and I. Today it is reallllllyyy coooolld.


29 Yea, we see that whosoever will may lay hold upon the word of God, which is quick and powerful, which shall divide asunder all the cunning and the snares and the wiles of the devil, and lead the man of Christ in a strait and narrow course across that everlasting gulf of misery which is prepared to engulf the wicked—

30 And land their souls, yea, their immortal souls, at the right hand of God in the kingdom of heaven, to sit down with Abraham, and Isaac, and with Jacob, and with all our holy fathers, to go no more out.

Helaman 3:29-30 The power of daily scripture study

Love,

Elder Matheson

Adventures... 5 Weeks Of Miracles Left!

Dear Mom and Dad, Family & Friends,

Wow, the new pavement looks great at the house, and I am very glad that you enjoyed the candy from Bolivia. Bishop got back from the states this week and he gave me my candy and floss from you. The dental floss is a big blessing because all the floss down here is really stringy. Bishop told me he liked Emma a lot!

Dad (and everyone else) good job with the sprinklers!!

This week my companion and I worked really, really hard! Wow, Elder Abendaño is one of the hardest working companions I have had. My companion talks to everyone!! He is 20 years old and really likes basketball.

This week we have had some amazing miracles!

Sandy and Humberto are doing great. Sandy loves watching videos so we taught her how to use Mormon Canal and to look on youtube for the videos sud (lds videos). It turns out that this week they watched almost all the pioneer movies and missionary movies, including The Best Two Years.

Saturday we taught them about the Word of Wisdom, and of course their big doubt was about coffee. Michael, their friend from the ward, shared his testimony. He is from Colombia, and he explained how his family never drank coffee or used drugs in Colombia and of all the the Lord’s blessings they received. Sandy was really impressed and said, “You never ever drank coffee in Colombia? They have the best coffee!”

But the most special part of the lesson was when Sandy and Humberto explained that ever since they have received the missionaries they have stopped going to disco clubs to eat out and drink and they have gone without alcohol for 5 weeks and how they felt the church was true!

Please pray for them and that they will have the faith to be baptized the 25th!

Tuesday or Wednesday we were contacting about 5 blocks from the Cardenas family. The first couple of doors didn't receive us so we kept going, and then we saw a door and that we both looked at and then contacted it. Wilsen came out and greeted us. He told us that he would like to learn about God because his mother had passed away a couple of years ago. We gave him a folleto about the plan of salvation and testified that there is life after death.

We couldn't find him during the week, but Sunday night we passed by, and we briefly taught him about the how we all will be resurrected one day and that he could live with and see his mother again if he followed Jesus Christ. He teared up and expressed his sincere desire to come closer to God again, and he also accepted to be baptized September 8!

Yovana and her family are doing great! When I am with them, I feel like I am with my family. We are really trying to help Yovana to daily read the Book of Mormon.

Ananí, their cousin, just moved from Sucre to Santa Cruz and is going to live close to the Cardenas family. And get this, she was attending a evangelico church in Sucre but never got baptized and she pretty much told us that she wanted to be baptized!! Wow, we were a little dumb struck but invited her to church, and she came. She isn't married yet, but her husband his going to arrive this week and they plan to get married on the 20th. This family is golden.

Pray for them and for us that we can teach with the spirit!

Love Elder Matheson!

41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it. Mosiah 2:41

The gospel really blesses families and individuals.

 

My last agenda! Missionaries always like to call it their trunky agenda and put a lot of stuff about marriage, but I used the idea of Elder Huanacune and put all of my companions on it! Each companion is different and every single one of them helps me to progress and be more like Christ. 

Playing soccer as a zone. Elder Berges in mid flight.

After soccer we ate hamburgers. YUMMMY!

Transfers!!

Dear Mom and Dad and Family and Friends!

That is so awesome that you could meet up with my Bishop from Bolivia! He reminds me a lot of Bishop McCormick. He is a really good man.

Good job on the chocolate beet cake. That is really an ingenious idea. I forgot to mention that they eat a lot of boiled, salted beets here, and I have grown to like them.

This week I have shown our family photo we took before I left on my mission to a lot of members and investigadors. Here are some of their first comments:

1.) ´´Wow todos son chockitos!! (Wow, they all have brown hair.)

2.) ´´Ella es su mama, cuantos años tiene. No enserio tiene 52 ella parece mucho mas joven (Is this your mom? How old is she? She is in her 50s? I can't believe it; she looks a lot younger.)

3.) Usted parace mucho como su papa (You look a lot like your dad.)

Please tell Grandma and Grandpa Bourgeous and Grandma Matheson hello for me!

This week has been full of adventures.

On Thursday we had a zone conference with Zona Central (our zone), Zona La Pampa, and Zona La Merced. Presidente taught us about the importance of the Book of Mormon and how it is so important that we study the Book of Mormon daily in our lives. That is the key to conversion because if members, converts, and investigadores learn to daily study the Book of Mormon, by diligent study of the scriptures, they receive the holy spirit and they will stay converted. Because some day the missionaries will leave, or they will move to a different ward and not have friends, or they will face trials, but as they daily study the scriptures they will receive the spirit and remain converted.

As zone leaders we had 30 minutes to capacitate our zone.

Saturday Yovanna was Baptized!!



Saturday morning it rained and rained and rained. All the streets were flooded and it was cooollld. Nonetheless, Yovanna and her family showed up and the members we had invited, and she was baptized. My companion baptized her, and Sunday I confirmed her!



Also, Sunday family Gallardo came to church! This is the third time they have come!

As for the transfers, My new companion is Elder Abendaño. He is 20 years old and is from Quito, Ecuador. I get to train him to be a zone leader! Also, Elder Huanacune is staying with us in trio until Saturday, and then he will go with a member to visit converts and will go home next Tuesday. So this week is going to be very interesting. I have never been in a trio before.

Highlight from my Personal Study this morning:

14Therefore, my son, see that you are merciful unto your brethren; deal justly, judge righteously, and do good continually; and if ye do all these things then shall ye receive your reward ; yea, ye shall have mercy restored unto you again; ye shall have justice restored unto you again; ye shall...

15For that which ye do send out shall return unto you again, and be restored; therefore, the word restoration more fully condemneth the sinner, and justifieth him not at all.

Alma 41:14-15

I learned that it is important that we are kind, that we forgive, that we serve and that we love others, for what we say and do in this life is who we will become in the resurrection.

Love,

Elder Matheson

Highlights & My Companion's Last Week

Dear Family and Friends,

Happy pioneer day. I sure liked seeing all the photos of the ward and handcarts! Also, thanks for talking to Marilin! I talked with Elder Stewart, and he told me that this week she might get married and baptized. Please keep praying for her!

As for some highlights this week:

Tuesday the Villaruel Family invited us over for lunch. This coming week is my companion’s last week in the mission field. They made us pique-macho. It was delicious.
 
Here is a picture of our zone Thursday after district meeting. The assistants aren´t there because they went with President to Tarija this week to hold the zone conferences down there.

Wednesday we did some service for Familia Cardenas. They had a big pile of sand that was all scattered so we moved it to a wall and then put bricks on the sand to keep it from blowing away.

Before

And After - Camilia and her neighborhood friends helped us with the bricks

Afterward they invited us to lunch. We ate pollo picante. It was rice, salad, and chuño (small potatoes that have a very unique taste) and chicken with the spicy sauce. It was soooo good. When they asked me if i wanted more I said, “Solo un poco.” So they brought me a whole new plate.

This week Yovanna is going to have her baptismal interview and if she feels ready her baptism. Please pray for her that she can recognize that she is ready to be baptized

Also Familia Gallardo went to church again for all three hours and they even brought their aunt. They are like member missionaries and they aren't baptized yet! Please pray for them. We are working hard with them to help them read and pray about the Book of Mormon!

Also, Saturday we are going to fast with Hno. Felix to receive an answer to know if this church is true please pray for him too!

Thank you for your love and support!

Elder Matheson