WEEK #4

Hellloooooooo!!

I still can't believe how lucky I am to be here on a mission. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!! ok, anywaysss......

I've been able to study and ponder more about how God speaks to his children. He really is so willing to be there for us and answer our questions. He knows us individually and, because we are all so different, he answers us in different forms. We just need to recognize how we personally receive revelation. I started a list of the different ways he speaks to people (I'm sure there are probably more...). He does it through:

-Prophets (speaking to us and appearing to them personally)

-Other people

-Dreams (Like Nephi and Lehi)

-The Holy Ghost (either thought, feelings, or impressions)

I've also been focusing on the restoration this week in my personal study time. We had the opportunity to teach a man named Carlos about it. After we taught him about the first vision he just knew that Joseph Smith was a true prophet. The spirit was so strong that it was undeniable. I know that God the Father and Jesus Christ appeared to Joseph Smith. I know that, because Joseph asked in prayer, God was able to answer him. I know that my prayers will be answered and that I will be able to know the mysteries of God if I just ask in faith. 

Sister Biggs and I were able to be the answer to other people's prayers this week. As we were Harvesting we felt impressed to knock on doors down a specific street. We were walking up to a house when a woman opened the door. She didn't want to pray with us at first, so we decided to invite her to church. She started telling us all about the terrible situation she was in and all of the hard things she was going through. We were then able to pray with her and as she felt the spirit she started crying. The next house we knocked on the lady opened the door crying. She told us that she had just found out that her son-in-law had 4 clogged arteries and he was going to be having open heart surgery the next day. She was emailing all of her friends and family, asking them to pray for her, when we knocked on the door.

I am so humbled that I've been called to this work. I'm so grateful for the opportunity I have to minister to the needs of people in the Fort Lauderdale mission. Because of this experience I know that this is what I'm supposed to be doing with my life right now. I can't imagine any place I'd rather be than serving the Lord. I know that Heavenly Father loves us and answers our prayers.

Funny Story: In our lesson with Carlos he showed us a video on his phone at the end of our lesson. It. was. weird. haha good thought, but weird. So the video starts out with a cougar hunting a bear cub. The cougar keeps following this poor little bear cub and he's just trying to escape. Mind you, the whole time there is dramatic music in the background and words in Spanish so I don't know what in the heck is going on. Carlos is narrating the whole thing in his nice accent "see the bear cub is trying to escape". "Es in Sanish, but es soooooo beautifulll." The bear cub gets to the momma bear cub and the mom is licking her cub. "See, thas like Jesus licking us clean from our sins. Es soooo beautiful!".....uuhhhh ok cute! Hahaha The movie was 5 minutes long of that. So great. 

Also, Sister Biggs is almost as blonde as me. We drove past a house that was tented because there must have been termites and she goes, "That looks like such a fun bounce house"....HAHA I love her dearly. 

I love you all SO much!! Have a great week and look for ways that God answers your prayers. 

Sincerely, 

Sister Matheson

 

1st Week in FLORIDA!!! (Week 3 of Mission, 2nd actual letter)

Happy (late) Easter!! Also, Happy (late) Birthday Parker!! I love you so much and hope you had a fantastic birthday. My thoughts and prayers are with you. aaaaaand Happy Birthday momma!!!! WOW I'm super sad that I'm not there to celebrate with you and decorate the house and make you a birthday breakfast, but I'm sure Ainslee, Preston, and Dad will take care of you. I love you SO much!!

I'M IN FLORIDA!!!!! I can't believe how lucky I am to be here in this mission. It's amazing here. My first couple of days here I kept thinking, "Man, it would be so cool to live in a place like this! Oh wait! I DO live here...for 18 months!!" haha 

OK so before I tell you all about my week here in Florida I'll tell you about my last few days at the MTC. My companion got quarantined on Friday morning! She had the flu and when we went to the Health Clinic they told her she'd have to stay in a room with another girl who had the flu as well. Security had to bring her all of her meals and she couldn't come to class so I was put with the other companionship of sisters in our district. Sad day. I felt super out of place without her. On Sunday morning she got released, thank goodness!!

Tuesday morning we had to get up at 1:30 am to get on a bus that took us to the airport so I got about 10 minutes of sleep that night. Fun stuff. RIGHT when I stepped off the plane in Ft. Lauderdale the humidity hit me...(good thing I love it now). President and Sister Anderson picked us up at the airport and took us back to their house where we had dinner and interviews. That night the AP's took us to hand out Book of Mormons. Sister Gardner was still my comp. and we had a man who claimed to be a prophet pray for us. (he would NOT take our BOM). Gotta love Florida. 

The next day at transfer meeting I met my trainer, Sister Biggs. She is so awesome. Everyone says we look like real sisters (but obviously she is like a million times cuter than me). The area that we're serving in is called Davie and it's in Ft. Lauderdale. The new temple is in our area. How lucky are we? This last Friday we got to work at the open house all day. I've also been able to go on two tours. It is GORGEOUS!! It's been an incredible opportunity for people to learn more about the church. All who enter are able to feel the peaceful spirit there. 

Saturday we had a mission conference. Elder Quentin L. Cook spoke and I got to shake his hand. He talked about how every apostle feels inadequate, but they feel adequate in standing as a witness of Jesus Christ. I feel the exact same way in my calling as a missionary. I KNOW I could not do this on my own. Luckily I don't have to. My life motto has always been "I can do hard things", but that is completely inaccurate. Pill. 4:13 Is my new motto. Look it up!!  

I know that my Redeemer lives. I know that he atoned for my sins and through the atonement I am able to do this great work. He makes up for what I lack and I will always love and serve him because of that. 

I love you alllll! Have an amazing week and look for ways you can serve those around you. 

Sincerely, Sister Matheson

 

 

MTC Letter #1

Long time no see...jokes it's only been one week and I'm loving every minute of it!! Seriously, for some reason I just never thought I would love being a missionary as much as I do. Just telling you all about the power and spirit here at the MTC won't suffice. You have to experience it to know, but I will say it is SO inspiring.

Sooo a little about my week. Wednesday, after I was kicked to the curb of the MTC, I got my name tag (I still look down at it multiple times a day and smile because it's still so surreal to me that I'm a "sister"). My host sister took me to drop off my bags and then I met my companion and district. My companion is Sister Gardner. She's 5'1" and SUPER smart. She's actually from St. George so that's pretty neato. We get along great:) She makes up for what I lack in my teaching ability. God really knew what he was doing when he put us together. My district has 7 people in it. Sister Garder and I are the only sisters going to Fort Lauderdale, along with one elder. The other two sisters and two elders are going to Talahasse..(how ever you spell it). Sister Dillon (the one we saw at Zuppas right before I got dropped off at the MTC) and Sister Wood are so adorable. Sister Dillon fell of the top bunk our first night here and got a good sized bruise. We couldn't stop laughing!!

Thursday was probably the longest day of my life! Let me explain why. So everyday here at the MTC we have basically the same schedule

6:30 Wake up

7:00 Breakfast

8:25 personal study/classroom instruction

11:30 Lunch

12:30 Classroom instruction/teaching "investigators"

4:30 Dinner

5:30 More Class 

9:00 plan the next day

9:30 return to our residence hall

10:30 lights out.......

     

repeat haha

They definitely keep us busy here! Thank goodness. I'm finally getting used to the schedule so the days are starting to fly by.

Everyday I see the hand of the Lord, multiple times a day! I think instead of boring you all with the details of my day I'll share with you the tender mercies I experience daily.

Wednesday-Getting such an amazing companion has been a HUGE tender mercy. 

Thursday- I found peanut butter in the cafeteria!!! haha I know this doesn't seem like a tender mercy, but it was just a little bit of home and it got me through the day. I'm a dork. 

Friday-I got to email my momma (for about 3 minutes)! Also, Sister Gardner and I taught our first lesson to an "investigator" (people come in and pretend to be investigators so that we can practice teaching. It feels real though!) It went better than I thought it would and I was able to feel the spirit as we taught.

Saturday- Sister Gardner and I met a sister here at the MTC who is from our mission (Sister Dorsan). It got me really excited to go out and teach the people of Florida!! Also, it was General Conference...so OBVIOUSLY that was a tender mercy in it of itself. It was so inspiring to sit amongst hundreds of young people who have devoted 18-24 months of their life to God. I've never loved General Conference as much as I did this last weekend. I just couldn't get enough of it. I can't wait till all of the talks come out in the Ensign so I can read them again. You should to!! I challenge you all to get the conference talks and re-read them before the next General Conference. Just do it:)

Sunday- We were able to listen to a devotional talk that Elder Bednar gave here at the MTC a while ago. It was called the Character of Christ. It was JUST what I needed to here. He talked about how Christ turns out when you and I would turn in. I also loved what Elder Jefferey R. Holland said in the morning session on Saturday that, "pure Christ like love can change the world". So my question to you is how can you be more Christ like this week?

Monday- I got my camera in the mail!! finally:) and I got a package and letters that helped me through the day. I don't know how I got so lucky to have such amazing people in my life.

My blonde moment of the week:Every Sunday night there is a devotional. This Sunday Vocal Point came (if you haven't heard of them, look them up. now.) anywhooo they announced who they were and I turn to my companion and go, "dang it! I can't even look them up to hear what they sound like for 18 whole months!!" It didn't occur to me until a few minutes later that they were there. To sing. So obviously I would be able to hear what they sounded like!!! hahaha woooow.

I love you all so much and I'm so grateful for your love and support. I know that God hears and answers prayers. He is a powerful God who knows you individually and cares about what you're going through. Remember that you don't have to be a missionary or have a name tag to stand as a witness of Jesus Christ. In fact you made a covenant to do so! I LOVE YOU!!!!

Sincerely, Sister Matheson

MTC Day Farewell's

MY FAREWELL

{March 16, 2014}

Some of my lovely best friends who came to support me. We're just missing Hannah and Amanda!

Here's the fam bam and my grandparents. 

     I felt so much love and support from all of the people who attended my farewell. I've truly been blessed with so many amazing people in my life. I know I wouldn't be where I am today if it weren't for them and their influence.

     I've had my mission call to the Florida Fort Lauderdale mission for about four months and I can't believe it's already time for me to leave TOMORROW!! It's not goodbye, it's see ya later...until we meet again. 

          Sincerely, Sister Matheson