First Week of the Cambio and Happy Mother´s Day!

Dear Family and Friends,

First off Happy Mother´s day Mom and all the moms and grandmas of our family! I am so grateful for my mother!

I love the stripling warriors. They are an example of the influence of a righteous, patient, faithful mother!

Alma 56: 47,48
Book of Mormon

47Now they never had fought, yet they did not fear death; and they did think more upon the liberty of their fathers than they did upon their lives; yea, they had been taught by their mothers , that if they did not doubt, God would deliver them.

48And they rehearsed unto me the words of their mothers , saying: We do not doubt our mothers knew it.

Alma 57: 21
Book of Mormon

21Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.

Sometimes here in Bolivian, and in most parts of the world, there are many broken families or children who never had mothers.  I am so grateful for you mom for teaching me the gospel and to put the Lord first in my life and everything will fall into proper place. Your teachings have blessed and changed my life!!

Also it was wonderful to see and talk with you and dad and Mary and Jason and the family!

And that is so crazy that Megan, Caroline, Tate, and Ian are all back. How time flies!

Here are some pictures and adventures:

This was the ward activity we had two weeks ago in Bella VIsta


So this instrument is called an Erky, but I call it my Bolivian Ork Horn. It’s a horn they use for folk dance and music. I think I am more of a string player than a reed player because it was hard to make a sound out of this thing.

Wednesday, picking up and opening pouch (all the materials and pamphlets and books of Mormon we receive each week)

Picture with Presidente and Hna. Rodriguez after our zone conference!

In the conference, President taught us that one of the best ways to minister to others is to share and teach the gospel. Also ministering can be leaving a kind note and doing activities with members and non members that strengthens your relationship with them and helps them receive the gospel.

Also, he taught us that the key to a successful missionary companionship and marriage is:

1. Unity, we must be unified and love and take care of one another

2. Teach with the Spirit -This comes by obedience to the Lord’s commandments and the missionary standards

3. Loving the People

A companionship that has these 3 things is unstoppable in accomplishing the Lord’s work.

My companion and I want to work on loving the people and the members more!!

Iglesia San Roce This is a big catholic church in Tarija - dad you would have loved the architecture.

So one adventure of being a zone leader is transfers! This morning we woke up at 4, got ready and went to the airport to pay for the luggage of the other missionaries and help them get their flights. Made me a little sleepy but there were no delays in the airlines so we got almost everything taken care of by 9:00.

But one Miracle that we had yesterday was that Marilin came to church again all by herself! She loved it. Also, Elder Stewart and I gave talks in church about the Restaurcion and the Book of Mormon. She told us we spoke and used correct Spanish! Yes!

But in the evening her husband didn't get home in time to teach him, but we talked about the blessings of fasting and how through fasting we can receive miracles. This Wednesday we are going to fast with her so she can have enough money to get married and that her husband will start to take more interest in the gospel. Marilin is so eager and willing to live the gospel!

Please pray for her and her husband, Iver, that they can get married and baptized. Also if you can, remember Claudia, Sulma, Christian, Cintia, Aidali in your prayers!

Thank you! Have a great week! The gospel is true!

Love,

Elder Matheson