Hello Trials and Miracles

Dear Mom and Dad, Family, and Friends,

Tell Brother Carling that I am voting for him too! And please tell Arie and her husband hello for me. That is awesome she got married! I bet Aunt Bertha is very happy right now too. The plan of salvation is so marvelous and she is in so much peace with her family. Please give Grandma a hug of comfort for me!

So last week I couldn’t send photos, but I have a lot this week to tell about and all the fun stories.

This past week we had an intercambio with Elder Vidal and Elder Maravilla. I went to their area in Senac with Elder Vidal.

Their area is wonderful but very rich and a lot of the times the people are too busy for the missionaries, but we were able to teach a reporter. She sure knows a lot about all the tragedies in the world and all the bad things that happen to people and she didn't accept the restauracion very easily, but we were able to testify to her about the power of the Book of Mormon and that this book is evidence that God, our Heavenly Father, stills loves all of His children and has restored His church on the earth!

Elder Barazoto and Elder Matheson

I saw my Son Elder Barazoto! He is here in Tarija as a district leader!

This was a year ago! Wow, I am so grateful to have lost some weight! :)


So as a zone today we went to the mountains to some waterfalls and had a BBQ.  It was so delicious!! The menu was steak, big hotdogs, grilled chicken, salad, and rice with lots and lots of soda! It was so fun and the zone like it a lot!

​I borrowed my companion's glasses to become a musico!!

But this week sure passed by fast! One huge miracles is that in our zone we had 9 baptisms this week! The Lord blessed us so much!!! Also, in the whole mission we broke the record and we had 67 baptisms in one week with 137 baptisms for the month of March! The Lord is in charge of this great work!

This last week mom and dad was full of trials and miracles. Lately a lot of our appointments have been falling through and people are having a hard time going to church. We sure planted a lot of seeds with family Echat, and now we are going to leave them for a time so they can grow. They haven´t been keeping their commitments and it hurts your heart because you love them, but you can't force them to accept the gospel. You can only invite and help them!! But I know we did a lot of good and maybe in a month they will be ready.

Also, Marisol and Jose are progressing so much! They each have attended church and have friends who are members and are staring to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. Now they just need to get married. Please pray for them that they can know the church is true and have the desire to get married.

Claudia and Edwin amazing too but haven't come to church yet.  This week we are going to teach them the importance of the sabbath day! Claudia works in a big super market called el camposino on Sundays and so a lot times she feels she needs to work. Please pray for them too!

Here is a little from my personal study:

And thus my father had fulfilled all the commandments of the Lord which had been given unto him. And also, I, Nephi, had been blessed of the Lord exceedingly.

19 And it came to pass that we did return without food to our families, and being much fatigued, because of their journeying, they did suffer much for the want of food.

20 And it came to pass that Laman and Lemuel and the sons of Ishmael did begin to murmur exceedingly, because of their sufferings and afflictions in the wilderness; and also my father began to murmur against the Lord his God; yea, and they were all exceedingly sorrowful, even that they did murmur against the Lord.

Just like Nephi, we receive blessings and trials, but we must never be angry with God because he loves us and is always with us if we do not reject Him and murmur against Him.

I love you so much!

Love,

Elder Matheson

Hitting My Six Month Mark

Dear Family and Friends,

This week we had a conference and my companion and I played a violin duet of If You Could Hie To Kolob. It turned out great. Also, President sure talked a lot about obedience especially between Elders and Hermanans, and he reminded us that we have been waiting for this moment to be missionaries all our life and so now we must give everything we can and fulfill this dream! Also, in sacrament meeting I got to play the piano. I am using the Simplified Hymns, but the ward sure likes it.

This week has been a week where the Lord has tried our faith. Thursday all of our appointments fell through and no one wanted to listen to us exclaiming they were happy to be catholic or that they didn't have time, and it also rained. But we made it through the rough day, and the next days we had miracles!

Familia Echat was so committed to go to church this week but didn't go. It made us so sad because this family is so wonderful, but Marisol came again and loved it! Please pray for familia Echat that they might feel the spirit and see the blessing of the gospel and that they will come to church!!

One thing I learned in my studies today from the talk by President Erying is that the Lord calls imperfect people to be his leaders or serve in callings. He sees our potential and our abilities and so we must have faith to accept that the call isn’t coming from the bishop or mission president but is coming from the Lord. And when others receive callings we must accept that they aren't perfect but that the Lord has called them to lead us and we must faithfully follow!

This Wednesday Elder Stewart and I hit our 6 month mark! Oh boy we are going to do more exercise to get in better shape! I want to make this last six months the best of my mission and not fall into the trunky trap and lose focus.

I hope you have a great week.

Love,

Elder Matheson

Consejo de lideres, getting sick and charangos!!

Dear Family and Friends,

Dad, Tarija is amazing, and the climate is just like Utah. I definitely am enjoying it. Today I bought a charango!!! It sounds like a ukulele banjo!

This week was amazing! Wednesday we left to Santa Cruz. The flight was amazing, but it was a little delayed so we got to Santa Cruz late but we were able to visit Herlin and Hna. Olga. It was so great to see everyone. Herlin and his family were so happy, and Hna. Olga made us some great apple pie. In the night, we also ate Papa Johns and in the morning empanadas. Yummy!

​Flying to Santa Cruz for the consejo de lideres with my great companion

​In the airport I saw my friend Adam Martin from Cedar High.  He is serving as a zone leader right now too!

Getting to visit with Herlin and Jessica

​Seeing Hermana Olga again!!

The council of leaders was very inspiring. Presidente taught us how one of the most important ways we can teach missionaries is through our example and also in exchanges and how to carry out a successful exchange.  Presidente Rodríguez is one of my heroes! In his Mission, Santa Cruz is going to receive its 3rd new stake here! Presidente truly knows the Master and loves us so much!

Attending the council of leaders

Well on the way back, my stomach was feeling funny, and when we got to the apartment it hurt a lot. So I asked my companion for a blessing and at night I threw up. Fun stuff, but if felt so much better, and that night, thanks to the blessing, it was one of the best sleeps I have had in the mission! The next day I was 100 percent better!

I know that the priesthood authority is here on the earth today! Yesterday after ending our fast, we gave two blessings to the members of the ward who were sick. One thing I have learned is that every time we fast, we are closer to God, and in these moments, he puts us in situations where we can use our priesthood to bless others!

I love the mission, and I love the scriptures.
 

Love,
 

Elder Matheson

 

Emergency Transfers and Washing By Hand

Dear Family and Friends,

This week has been crazy and full of many miracles.

First off, Tuesday afternoon, Presidente called us and told us that an Elder in the zone needed help and so Elder Pineda will be the new district leader in Tablidita and will end the training of an elder, and my new companion is Elder Stewart!

Elder Stewart is from my same group and is from South Jordan, Utah! He is an amazing Elder and a great leader.

Elder Stewart and I using the internet on P-day

Now because we are both new learning the area together, it has been an adventure, but the big blessing is that Elder Stewart was serving in Barrio Progresso 2 months ago, which is right next to our area so he helped me learn the area and we also share the same church with his old ward.

This week we sure talked with many people, and the Lord guided us and we found many new investigatores!

Also, here in Tarija we wash our clothes by hand. I sure miss a washing machine. Washing your pants is hard work. Socks aren't too bad, but wow, it sure makes you grateful for clean clothes and helps you take better care of your clothes!

Washing my clothes by hand... oh, how fun!

Also, as a zone leader here, we have the responsibility of buying all the mattresses, lights, desks, and materials for the elders and sisters in the zone so that sure is new responsibility, but it feels good to serve the zone even though sometimes it can get stressful!

One thing I learned this week in my personal study from conference is that repentance is always positive. Repentance is for everyone, for sinners and for saints. Also, repentance without faith in Jesus Christ is just painful personal re-correction. Through faith in Jesus Christ and his atonement, we receive His divine power and assistance to become someone much more than we could ever become!

Also, I know the Book of Mormon is true, and as we read this book, looking for guidance in our daily problems, that stories in this book will come alive and will teach us how to return with God!

One good example of this is Nephi and Laman. Laman was obidiente many times to the Lord and his commandments but only because he felt obligated to be obidiente. But Nephi loved the Lord and was obidiente because he trusted the Lord.

Nephi was blessed and was happy. Laman was miserable and did not receive eternal life.

Wow, I learned that as a missionary, we have the opportunity to show our love to God by being obedient! As we do so, with faith, we will be happy!!

Love,

Elder Matheson