Tarija

Dear Family and Friends,

This week sure as been an adventure! Mom I am like you now; I miss the heat! Wow, here in Tarija it is really dry which is great but it sure gets cold. I am now using my winter ware (and it is still summer)! Also, our hot water hasn't been working so we have been heating up water in a basin and then using a pitcher to shower to not have to use the cold water. Hopefully this week, someone can fix our hot water.

Also the people talk in an Italian-Spanish accent. It sounds like they talk like they are singing, but there are very nice.

This week, my companion and I had a baptism. His name is Hno. Chirinos and is a very humble man. His family was baptized this last month and so it was great to complete their family!!

Right now we found a new golden family. Their name is the Echat Family. Part of their family are members but live in Argentina, but they really have desires to learn more about the church and have attended church a couple times. Please pray for us that we can teach them with the spirit and they can feel this message is true!

Also, here there are many mothers who are interested in the gospel but their husbands aren't or they are never home, but our goal is to find and teach all the family.

We went bowling as a district for P-day, and I won! Wow, that is a first. I got three strikes! In our district there is Hna. Maman, Hna. Zalbada, Elder Maravilla, Elder Vidal, and my companion and I.



My companion is great! I am teaching him how to play the violin because he bought one here in Tarija at Christmas because he has always wanted to learn. We get along well.

Pictures of the center of Tarija!





I love you so much and hope you have a great week!

Elder Matheson

P.S. Herlin was married and baptized!!!

Cambios a Tarija!

Dear Mom and Dad, Family, and Friends,

Wow, California sounds perfect right now! And please give Grandpa a big hug for me. Also, Michael is a pro at holding babies now!

This week has been pretty bitter sweet and so fun!!

First off, for Carnaval we got permission from President to go to the ward barbecue at 11 in the morning this past Tuesday. It was awesome. A Bolivian BBQ is a little different than an American one but mainly you have some good steak with some bratwurst hot dogs with hot rice and cheese mixed together with a little bit of an onion and tomato salad with yuca! Yuca is this white root that tastes really bland unless it is fried or has a lot of salt, but the people here love it. Hence the phrase, “I am mas camba de la yuca” or an American translation... I am more American than the hamburger. Something like that!  

Bolivian BBQ - Ward Carnaval BBQ

As we waited for the BBQ, we played futbol. When you play on a cement court, you play with a ball the weighs more so it travels faster and stays on the ground.


After the BBQ, we played futbol until about 5. It was so fun and Herlin came and made some great friends.

Making pancakes Monday with Olga and Ernesto and their grand kids. They love pancakes, especially when we added the chocolate chips!

Now for the crazy part of the week. Saturday is when we got the cambios and it is super fun because we get to announce them to the whole zone by calling them in the night. Herlin and Jessica had to postpone their wedding until this next Saturday, but Herlin had his interview and passed with flying colores. Anyway, my companion and I both thought we were going to stay together because we are both new to the area. NOPE!!!

It turns out that I have been transferred to Tarija where there are mountains, and my new companion is Elder Pineda and we will be serving as the zone leaders. He is from Ecuador and the native tribe there where it is a grand honor for the men to use braids!   ​

My new companion

Sunday was really special to visit our investigadores and converts, but it was really heart wrenching because I was expecting to see the baptism of Herlin and also Santiago y Maria Jose and Soledad this cambio, but I feel good because in this cambio with my companion we worked super hard and with the help of the spirit we planted the seeds of conversion for many people! Here are some of the member and investigadores.


Saying good-bye to Olga and Ernesto! They are examples of true saints and followers of Christ!

But one special blessing was to see Alan receive the Priesthood this week. In the third hour, Hno. Ernesto and 2 other high priests ordained him to the office of a priest. The blessing was so inspired and promised Alan that by magnifying his priesthood duties, he we would be blessed to finish his studies and would be the means of bring others of his family to the knowledge of the gospel! Alan is firm in the gospel and it is one of the sweetest feelings to see him progress and be converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

This morning we went to the offices at 3:40 a.m. UHHH we didn’t get a lot of sleep and from there we went in bus to the airport and then flew to Cochabamba and then to Tarjia!

​Evidence that we went to Cochabamba

 

 

Santa Cruz to Cochabamba to Tarija

Traveling to Tarija!

Tarija is amazing and there are mountains!!!! And there aren’t a lot of mosquitos and it isn’t humid!! It really feels like am in Utah again! But this week is going to be fun!  We are in 4 de Julio ward.

Tarija

 These are some scriptures that mean a lot to me:

4 For many times you have desired of me to know that which would be of the most worth unto you.


5 Behold, blessed are you for this thing, and for speaking my words which I have given you according to my commandments.

6 And now, behold, I say unto you, that the thing which will be of the most worth unto you will be to declare repentance unto this people, that you may bring souls unto me, that you may rest with them in the kingdom of my Father. Amen.

Wow, how blessed are we as members of the church to have the restored gospel in our lives and to know that the greatest happiness will come as we share it with our brothers and sisters so that after this life we can rest or be with them in the kingdom of our Father forever!

Love,

Elder Matheson

P.S. You have got to see Coco the Disney movie. It teaches us about family history work!

Streets of Tarija

Carnaval & Happy Valentine’s Day

Dear Mom and Dad, Family, and Friends,

Thank you so much for the early email! We got one hour today to write our families and friends. That is so awesome that you got to see Mrs. Cooley. Can you give her a big hug for me and thank her for everything she taught me. I still remember her boat and castle!

This week has been full of miracles.

On Wednesday, we did an intercambio, and Elder Rodriguez came to our area with me. We had so much fun, and we worked hard. He is a good elder and can eat fast. Hna. Olga made us this huge plate of Columbia rice and chicken, and I ate one plate and a half and he ate 3! It was so delicious!!

Hermana Olga's delicious rice and chicken.

Also, we were walking and Anna, the family member of Familia Vargas, came out and said hey my parents are home do you want to teach them. So we said sure and went and taught her parents about the restauracion. They were very receptive.

Herlin and Jessica are going to be married this next Friday, and Herlin will be baptized Saturday. It is so amazing to see the change. At first, when we got there, their relationship as novias was normal. But now as they are preparing to be married, the spirit is with them and you can see that they are happier. Truly the commandments are blessings!

Also, Belen, is doing super well. Yesterday she understood the restauracion and believes what we are teaching her is true. Please pray for her and Yankel and Maria Jose and Santiago and David and Alex and Adalir and Soledad and Lidia that they can gain a testimony of the Book of Mormon.

As for carnaval, it is a Catholic tradicion where for three days you can sin a lot before you need to repent, and here it is also 3 days of non stop water/mud fights. Not the best place for missionaries but we are going to study a lot, see some church videos, and eat yummy food with Olga y Ernesto! Also, the church takes a lot of jovenes away from the city to do youth conference for the 3 days!

This week my new goal is to be a better teacher. I have been thinking about the ability to teach the gospel is a tool that you need as a missionary, parent, in your job, and in every aspect of your life so this week I am going to study more of ch 10 to try and become better.

Also, this cambio flew by. Next week, Saturday, we will know who his going and who is staying in the zone. I think I am going to stay, but you never know.

I love you so much!

Have a great Valentine’s week.

Elder Matheson

Exercise time

Drenched, Hard Working Zone, and Cotoca

Dear Family and Friends!

That is super funny with the rat eating Grandma Polly's avocados. Right now there are so many avocados here. And they are the size of gatorade bottles. They are huge. But I haven't seen a possum in any of the trees. This week we didn't get a lot of snow but si we got tons and tons of rain. The huge 20 foot canal by our house almost overflowed!! We got drenched Thursday, but when we got back from the zone meeting we were able to put on our irrigation boots and raincoats.

Rain!

Also, our zone is working super hard. Our goal is that this month we can have 20 baptisms! We had three this week in the zone and we had about more than 60 attend church. And we found over 157 new investigatores in one week. When you look at a zone you really can see the Lord’s work flying forward!

This week, mom and dad, we have 9 people with baptismal dates! One of them is Soledad. She is 15 and has such a strong desire to follow Christ that she agreed to be baptized on 25 of February in the first lesson and attended church this week and loved it!!

Also the new chapel is amazing! I will send pictures! It is so much bigger and the AC is divine and the members are so grateful to have the church so close! This Sunday so many people came to see the new chapel and it was so full of people and many inactive members!!

This week flew by. My companion and I have been working really hard, and every night we when we get ready to pray we almost fall asleep on our knees. We are doing well!

Me and my companion enjoying some ice cream

I went to Cotoca on an intercambio with Elder Dubiel this week. IT IS SUCH A FUN TOWN but is very catolico!

Cotoca’s beautiful colonial style church

Cotoca is located about 20 kilometers to the East of Santa Cruz





Cotoca is known for its handmade clay artwork




Also, carnaval is next week so we are going to be in our house starting Sunday till Tuesday. What an adventure!


I love you all!


Elder Matheson