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

The Bible and The Book of Mormon

Dear Family and Friends,

One big miracle this week is that the Gallardo Family went to a ward activity Saturday and stayed for church all three hours! They told us that they were a little scared to enter the chapel because they thought everyone would be dancing and yelling, but to their surprise both the Saturday activity and sacrament meeting were very reverent.

Fireside we held Saturday for our investigadors and converts. Bishop is right next to me and Humberto y Sandy are right behind my companion

During sacrament meeting, the talks were great and some ward members sat by them. One talk was about the temple and they talked about baptismals for the dead, the endowment, and the temple sealing, and they were a little confused about all of that.

In the evening we are going to answer all of their questions. Please pray for us and them that they can feel the spirit and know this church is true!

This week we also taught Hno, Ribero. He has been passing through a lot of trials and has really been questioning the truthfulness of the church. We visited him twice this week. He explained that he has had many doubts and that he has been talking to his evangelical friends and searching the internet and can´t believe the church is true.

We asked him if he has read the Book of Mormon, and he told us that he never has because there only is the Bible. He fulfilled the prophecy of Nephi and told us that ´´I have a Bible, and there is only the Bible, and I don't need more than the Bible.´´

At one point we were very direct with Him and told him that the only way he could know if this church is what it claims to be is to study the Book of Mormon and asked God if it is the word of God and that if he never does this and continues on his path, he will be condemned.

This discussion made me a little scared. But I really reflected on my testimony, and I know that the Book of Mormon teaches about Christ. It prophecies of Christ and that every time I read this book of scripture my soul is filled with peace, love, and a clearness of mind that is divine. I also have asked God, and I have felt a burning in my heart that this book is true as is the Bible!

10 And now, my beloved brethren, and also Jew, and all ye ends of the earth, hearken unto these words and believe in Christ; and if ye believe not in these words believe in Christ. And if ye shall believe in Christ ye will believe in these words, for they are the words of Christ, and he hath given them unto me; and they teach all men that they should do good.

11 And if they are not the words of Christ, judge ye—for Christ will show unto you, with power and great glory, that they are his words, at the last day; and you and I shall stand face to face before his bar; and ye shall know that I have been commanded of him to write these things, notwithstanding my weakness.

-- 2 Nephi 33:10-11

If you have doubts about the church, read the Book of Mormon with the Bible, and ask God, and He will tell you of the truth of these things through the Holy Ghost!

I love you all so much!

Elder Matheson

P.S.  Empanadas- I think it is like pie crust; there isn't any yeast just flour, sugar (I think) a little salt and then maybe milk, but I will look for a good recipe for you mom.

​As a zone this week we went and played futbol with all the Elders and then we met up with the sisters and played wally ball

 Then went to Cine Center ( It is like a Bolivian Mall) and we ate lunch! I got some good old KFC!! Yummmy!

Hno. Felix. He is one of our investigadors

​

Festival de Danzas

Dear Family and Friends,

Here in sunny Santa Cruz it is hot and humid again. One blessing though is that there aren´t a ton of mosquitoes in our area because most of the area is pavement.

But this week my companion and I worked hard and the Lord blessed us with a really prepared family. Last Monday we were contacting and passed by a house and we saw a wedding photo through the window so we decided to contact them. A lady came out and told us that her cousins are Mormons too. Her husband wasn't home so we set a return date. When we came back, the one lady wasn't there but her brother Humberto was, and he let us in.

Humberto and Sandy Gallardo have been married for 5 years and they have two kids. During the lesson we learned that they don't assist any church but do want to learn more about God. Humberto told us, ´´I have a hole in my life. I feel like something is missing in my life.”

So we taught them the plan of salvacion this week and they accepted a baptismal date for the 4 of August. Saturday we invited them to church. Hno. Humberto said, “My wife and I want to go to church, but in every church we go to we feel uncomfortable because everyone is dancing and shouting.” (When he told us that, I thought this family is like one of those families that you read about in Preach My Gospel or in conference talks.) But we testified that this is Christ's church and that because it is His church, it is a church of order. They agreed to go Sunday, but when we passed by Sunday they had had some family problems and could't attend. (There is an opposition in all things.) Please pray for them!

Big news! Ivan, Elvis and Carlos all received the Aaronic priesthood this week! And Yovanna and Her Mom came to church too!

Friday, the stake held a huge dance festival. It was held in good sized basketball/futzal stadium. We got permission from President, and the entire zone went as long as we brought an investigador with us. Before the festival started, the whole zone contacted and tried to invite as many people possible from the street to attend.

​Our zone!

​In the festival, every ward had a specific department of Bolivia. This is barrio Trompillo they danced a dance from Santa Cruz.

Piari (my old ward a year and half ago was there too. I got to see some ward member too) They had the department of Oruro! Their dance was my favorite!

Some other adventures this week:

​Intercambio with Elder Gonzalez. He is from Peru and plays rugby.

​If you haven´t heard, France won the world cup! It was crazy on Sunday. During the match there wasn't a single car on the street. In South America the world cup is like the super bowl. In memory of France we went to the ramada and bought some France soccer jerseys.

​My companions!

Elder Stewart was my previous companion

My companion now - Elder Huanecune

 ​KFC! There is one in Santa Cruz. It was delicious!

I know this is God´s work and that the Book of Mormon and the Bible are the word of God and that as we read them we receive power and comfort from on high!

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Matheson

This Hna. Helen and Her Family


Helen is a  member who is coming back to church. She cooks so well. She made us empanadas! Her daughters Yovanna and Joselin are investigating the church!

Happy 4th of July!

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow, Seth, Kyle, and Seleck look great! You can tell they finished their missions well! Thanks for the photos too!

That hilarious with the dog cut out! Good job Michael in protecting the house!! And dad that is awesome you made muffins for mom! Mom, I hope you had an extra special birthday because you are an extra special mother!

Joel is an investigador of the sisters in 4 de Julio in Tarija. He asked me to baptize him.

Please tell Sister Pace hi and give her a hug from mi!

This week went by fast! Wow, we are in week 3 of the transfer!

One highlight this week was el consejo de lideres. It is the leadership counsel that President holds with the assistants, zone leaders, and Sister training leaders of the whole mission.

My companion and I at consejo

In this counsel President talked about the importance of ministering to our zones. He told us that a powerful intercambio/exchange can bless and change the course of a missionary. I sure respect Presidente and Sister Rodriguez. This month they hit their two year mark in the mission, and President expressed his love for us and told us that he saw us as his fellow brothers in this great battle for our Savior Jesus Christ.

Also, I got to see Elder Stewart! He is doing great and he told me that Marilin and Josselin are still going to church. Also, Caudia´s dad gave her permission to be baptized if she commits to go to church each week. What a blessing!

Oh and Ivan (they spell Yban here) is doing much better. Thank you for your prayers. He is on his feet working again. After the counsejo my companion received a great impression to ask for clothes for Ivan. We talked to Hna. Rodriguez and we were able to get some dress shirts and pants for Ivan from the mission storage of clothes (when elders go home or new elders come in with a ton of extra clothing, you can donate it to the mission so that investigadores and converts can receive needed clothing)

The next day we gave Ivan his bag of clothes. He didn't say much but he had a genuine smile and we could tell he was very grateful for the clothes. When we left, I felt really happy and that we had completed our call to represent our Savior Jesus Christ and minister to him.

35For I was an hungred , and ye gave me meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me drink: I was a stranger , and ye took me in:

36Naked, and ye clothed me: I was sick, and ye visited me: I was in prison, and ye came unto me.

40And the King shall answer and say unto them, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren , ye have done it unto me.

This week, I felt the truth of these scriptures and learned that there are many people in need that we can minister to!

Saturday, Elvis got baptized! My companion baptized him. After his baptism, he told me, "Wow, I really feel clean from my sins!"

Elvis and his baptism

Sunday: We did divisions to pick up investigatores. I went to pick up familia Cardenas. We invited 4 of their neighbor's kids to go to church with us and they went! It was 8:55 and church was in 5 minutes and a miracle taxi pulled up and we fit 5 kids in the trunk, 4 adults (me and Julio included in the middle seats and the driver, Hna. Alexandra and her younger sister up front.

In total we fit 12 people in a 1997 Toyota Corolla hatchback. Oh, what a sight. But we made it to church on time!

I am so grateful for the gospel of Jesus Christ! It brings joy and peace to all children of God! This Church is true and what a blessing it is to have a latter day prophet and 12 apostoles who guide us!

Have a great week!

Love,

Elder Matheson

To celebrate the 4th we wore American colors and ate ice cream. My companion’s sweats are like the guy from Napoleon Dynamite. They make me laugh

Week 1 in Antofagasta

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow it sounds like quite a week! The mountains sure look pretty and that is very interesting sunset with the temple!

So the mission has a mission doctor which is Dr. Lopez. He is Boliviano and gave me my huge penicillin shot but there is also Hna. Willis. She is a missionary and mission nurse. She is in our zone and is super awesome. When ever we get sick or have health questions we call her. If it is something serious we talk to Hna. Rodriguez and Dr. Lopez.

As for the ward, it is great! This week was nice and cool but then heated up. The area is really nice because it has a lot of pavement and looks just like California, but the people are good and receptive.

Our bishop is awesome. He works in a trucking company and has 2 sons studying at BYU and he really likes gringo missionaries so we get along great. Also, the ward has a lot of return missionaries and there are many investigadores. In all it is a really healthy, happy ward.

Also, this week, we had a baptism. Carlos got married to his girlfriend who is a member and then Sunday morning he got baptized!

Saturday we got permission to go to the villa (my old zone in la Pampa) and see them sign the marriage certificate with a lawyer.

The baptism turned out great! Carlos is 20 years old and really has a strong testimony. In his baptismal service and in sacrament meeting he testified of how he prayed and fasted to know if the church was true and was able to receive an answer from the spirit!

Carlos´ baptism. Bishop baptized him.

Also we had a family night with Familia Gutierres. They love the missionaries. Their son is going to Mexico in Ooctober. They also had one of those spiky hamsters (I don´t know what they are called) but I got to hold it with a glove.  It tried to spike me!

We got permission from Presidente and we got to watch one match of the world cup. Brazil beat Mexico. It was really fun to watch. My companion played semi-professional in clubs in Peru and taught me a lot of futbal.

The work is going well here. This next week, Elvis is going to get baptized. He is so eager follow Christ but has a hard time remembering to read the Book of Mormon. Please pray for him.

If all goes well Christian, Yovana, and Joselin will get baptized this month. Also, a recent convert, Yban has been going through some problems. He has been struggling with liver failure and problems with his family. Yban is 26 but has a mental illness and is like a humble child. Please pray for his health and the other investigadores!

One spiritual thought from my personal study: God is our loving Heaving.

Blessed are ye because of your faith. And now behold, my joy is full.

21 And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.

22 And when he had done this he wept again; 3Nephi 17:21-22

Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us and weep with us when we suffer and are happy when we obey their commandments.

Love,

Elder Matheson

Joel is an investigador of the sisters in 4 de Julio in Tarija.  He asked me to baptize him.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A few photos with members and investigators and our zone and district in Tarija just before I left



 

Transfers!

June 26, 2018

Dear Family and Friends,

Wow, the family reunion looked awesome! Good job Sevy family! I really appreciated the idea of grandpa´s legs event! That’s funny! Also the orchestra looked great! And I am so proud of Audrey! She is going to be a fantastic missionary!

Sooooo Saturday we got the transfers, and I have been transferred to (drum roll) Santa Cruz! I will be serving as a zone leader in Zona Central, barrio Antofasgasta, and my companion is Elder Huanecune. He is 25 and is from Peru. He is from my same group but is cutting his mission a transfer short for schooling so voy a matarle or I am going to be his last companion.

One interesting thing about our zone is that is has all of the center of Santa Cruz or all the really rich people. Also there are only 8 elders and 4 hermanas. It is really small, but the zone has great missionaries and includes the secretaries, mission nurse, and assistants.

Transfers are always kind of emotional, and getting used to a new area and companion always makes me a little anxious, but all is well. Our new house has two bathrooms!!

But yesterday it was great to say goodby to the members and investigators in 4 de julio. I am going to miss them.

​This my new companion! Elder Huanecune

Elder Vidal and Hermana Mamani came with me from our zone to Santa Cruz

​Goodbye mountains

This is Jose! He is the ward mission leader in 4 de julio. He served in Chile and got back recently.

​Dian and Fabiana Conejo. This family is helping us help Josselin have friends

​Hno Oscar Martines!

This is Hna. Jimena and her sister! Hna. Jimena is such a faithful member of the church! They love the elders and do so much good for others.

This is Wildard! He is Elder Iparraguire's convert and is 16. He always accompanies us!

Hno Miguel and his mom Feliza. They are great converts. Miguel is getting ready for the mission and his mom has been helping us visit Marilin!

And I tried making biscuits and gravy. We didn’t have sausage so I used boiled hot dogs. It wasn’t quite the same but it still tasted alright.

​Here is a dog from Tarija. It gets really cold so they put these shirts (they look like dresses to me :) on their dogs

I am grateful for change because it really helps remind me to be humble. I love to think of Heavenly Father as a master craftsmen of metal or the most loving black smith. In order to turn a big chunk of rock into something beautiful, a blacksmith must put the material into extreme heat or in this case different or unique circumstances and then he must pound out the imperfections and then cool the metal in water.

I feel that life and the mission is like that. They are times of refinement, times of trial which help us trust in the Lord and become more like him, and times of joy!

16 ¶ For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.  John 3:16

As we go through this mortal life and as we are refined, I know we can find comfort as we believe in Jesus Christ. He lived to show us a perfect example, died and suffered for our sins and afflictions, and rose from the dead so that all of us will not perish but be able to live after death and according to our obedience, live with Him again.

I hope you have a wonderful week!

Love,

Elder Matheson