Week 73

This week has been the weirdest adventure!!!

-We had Zone Conference this past Tuesday. 

We drove with the STL's for the 1.5 hour drive. 

-Sister Brisco stepped on a giant red ant hill and got eaten alive

-A 23 year old guy jokingly proposed that we join him and his girlfriend in a polygamous marriage...HAHAHA

Saturday night we were biking home. We were in a bit of a hurry because we knew we needed to be home on time, however, as we biked passed the hospital I noticed a woman sitting on the sidewalk with her belongings. I had the impression to go talk to her. In my head I thought, "but we're cutting it close on time". The Spirit prompted me again, "go back and talk to her". I obediently turned my bike around and offered to share a card about Jesus Christ with her. She declined but told us that she did need help. She told us that she had just left the hospital and didn't know where she was because she was from UTAH!!! Immediately I knew we were where we were supposed to be. She looked like she was pretty banged up and as we talked with her she told us how she had come to Florida for a rehab center. They had admitted her to the hospital, but she had "checked herself out" by ripping out the IV and walking out. I asked her if she was a member and she told us she was. Her phone was dead and she didn't know where to go or what to do. We called a member family in our ward and they offered to come give her a ride. While we waited we said a prayer with her, talked about her family (who are all active members!!!). When the members came they took care of her. Brother H helped gave her a blessing and they actually had to let her stay at their house because the hospital would not re-admit her. We went over and visited yesterday for dinner. It was an amazing experience to be a part of this woman's story. I know that God loves her. No matter how far she had gone or what she was doing, God provided a way for her to be taken care of by prompting two Sister Missionaries to just stop and talk to her. I will forever remember this experience. 

One scripture I loved from the Book of Mormon this week is found in Alma 5:57,

"All you that are desirous to follow the voice of the good shepherd, come ye out from the wicked, and be ye separate, and touch not their unclean things. . ." 

Most of the time we wont be able to see the end from the beginning. We may even feel as if we are wandering in the dark, but if we rely on the "voice of the good shepherd" we shall not fear. 

"What you spend your time seeking will be what you find". 

Love you all!

Sister Matheson

Pictures:

Week 72

I'll start out with some comic relief...Because of our limited miles we decided to bike a few days this week. On Thursday we parked our car at a park and biked to an area where we were planning on knocking. It started to get late and we got caught up teaching a lesson. By the time we left we had to RUN to our bikes (which were about a mile away), bike as fast as we could to our car, and then we would've made it home in time...well...that would've been all fine and dandy except that the PARK WAS LOCKED UP!!! Haha we couldn't leave so we waited on the sidewalk, all sweaty and gross, for the Sisters we live with to come pick us up. Moral of the story, read the park signs...

This week was quite a humbling week. All of our investigators either dropped us or got anti-ed. We tried everything we could to find. We OYM-ed (Open Your Mouth), rode our bikes, had finding time for most of our day, and still we were not finding elect new investigators. By Sunday I didn't know what more I could do but continue in faith, trusting that God would provide a way. We went knocking doors Sunday night and I KNEW that God had a family of five prepared for us to find that night. We prayed with a few people, but no one was very solid. On our way home we decided to pull over and knock doors for as long as possible before calling it a night. The last door we were planning on knocking on was a family of FIVE!!! They invited us in, talked about how they had been disappointed in all of the churches that they had attended, and accepted everything! It was a tender mercy from God that would not have been possible unless we were humble. 

I read in the Book of Mormon this week about the people of Limhi and how they were in bondage. God wasn't able to completely relieve their burdens, but when they humbled themselves THEN he was able to "ease the burdens which were upon their backs". I know that God is gracious. I know that he teaches us through every trial he allows us to go through. I am grateful for that. 

One of the little girls in our ward started Kindergarten today, her mom gave us a call today and said that the first thing she put in her backpack was the Restoration pamphlet that we had given her. She said that she was going to give it to her teacher and then "Sister Madison will teach her about Jesus". It was the cutest thing. Hey, even a five year old can find a way to share the gospel so we can too! 

I love you all! Tell me all about your missionary experiences. 

Sincerely, Sister Matheson

pics: 

Stranded at the park

Dylon bought us Italian Ice before our lesson. 

I locked the keys in the Church...
I just don't have good luck with keeping track of keys..;) 

Crabs are all over here!

Week 71 Getting Creative

This week we have been getting very creative in our finding efforts. We drew out the plan of Salvation with chalk at a park. I was wondering why I felt prompted to do that until we saw one of my former investigators there. She didn't accept a return appointment, but I know that god wanted us to be there to remind her of the truthfulness of the gospel. We also tried different door approaches such as holding up a Book of Mormon and asking them if they'd ever seen the book before. A lot of people actually responded that they had seen it before and we were able to hand out a couple of Books of Mormon. And yes, I have been practically running door to door. Bless my companion's heart...

We've been struggling to find new investigators who progress past the first lesson. I know that God will provide someone for us as we stay diligent. That has been the theme of my studies this past week in the Book of Mormon. No matter how long the people are in bondage, God always provides a way for them to be freed and repent. Ammon finding Limhi and his people in Mosiah is a great example of that. Enos 1:4 is also an example, 

"And my soul hungered; and I kneeled down before my Maker, and I cried unto him in mighty prayer and supplication for mine own soul; and all the day long did I cry unto him; yeah, and when the night came I did still raise my voice high that it reached the heavens."

It doesn't matter how long it takes for God to deliver us, just that he DOES. And I know that he does. 

We went on exchanges this week and I got to work in the other Sister's area. At the meal appointment the members told us the greatest/most cheesy Book of Mormon joke. Enjoy...

"Why did the Lamanites have sore knees? 

Because of all the NEPHITES (knee fights)!".....badum bum

Love you all! 

Sincerely, Sister Matheson

p.s. I saw a real life alligator for the FIRST TIME!!! It was just a little 2.5 feet one in a pond, but still! I'm a true Floridian now.

Pictures:

Buffets are not our friends.... 

We knocked doors with a Sister from our ward and her four year old. 

The four year old even said one of the prayers and insisted on knocking all the doors and 

giving everyone cards. People were actually nice to us for a change...haha

We found a bay in our area!

Dinner appointments with Larry 

We found an "Exchange" street on our exchange!

Week 70 - Live like Christ or Suffer like Christ

God blessed us with so many miracles this week! One of my favorites was when God led us to our investigator, Flor and her eleven year old Sister Jacky. When we knocked on their door they invited us in and we shared a prayer with them. They accepted baptism, church, and a return appointment. We were a little dissappointed when they didn't show up to church on Sunday so we decided to go over to their house that night and see what had happened. She explained that she had slept through her alarm and woke up late, however, we met her mom and her other EIGHT year old sister who both accepted baptism as well! We are going to see them tonight with a member. 

I know that God wants us to teach them together as a family.

Funny story: As missionaries we have weird lingo. Let me brake it down for you. When you first come to the mission you are "born". You receive a trainer who is your "mom", etc. When a missionary is going home they say they are "dying" and their last companion "kills" them. ANYWAYS...Friday we were going to knock doors with our STL's, but Florida decided to downpoor with thunder and lightning at the same time. We switched our schedule around and took shelter in Tropical Smoothie Cafe for dinner in hopes that the rain would stop. As we sat at our table Sister Clegg said (rather loudly) to Sister Ray, " So how many people have you killed?" Sister Ray replied, " oh just 3..." 

I looked at them like, oh my gosh! People are going to think we're freaks!!!! 

We all died laughing...figuratively:)

A member shared a quote in her testimony yesterday that I thought was very profound. She said,  "You can either live like Christ or you can suffer like Christ" it is our choice to rely on him or go through our trials alone. 

In the Book of Mormon I read about the allagory of the Olive Tree in Jacob 5. I loved verse 65 which reads, " And as they begin to grow ye shall clear away the branches which bring forth bitter fruit, according to the strength of the good and the size thereof; and ye shall no clear away the bad thereof all at once. . ." 

The amount of trials God gives us is dependant upon our strength. He only gives his hardest trials to his children who He knows will grow and benifit from them. 

I love you all. Don't get sick of me saying that because I'm going to say it every week. It's an FFLM thing. 

I LOVE YOU!!!!

Sincerely, Sister Matheson

Pics:

This is our District.
We do "hurricane trainings" and an Elder had us make "rain ponchos".
So dumb! Haha

We have an ear-wig infested car.
Sister Brisco took it upon herself to eliminate them. Love her!

 Idk if I ever sent you pics of our apartment so here you go...

Our living room 

Kitchen (view from the front door)

Our bedroom

Elder Brimley from my first District and Ward came to visit this week.