Week 46

This week was so incredible. I definitely know we were in the right places at the right time.

 

-Our investigator Andre came to Church!!! He wasn't committing because he wanted to "look good" and didn't have any church pants. Sister Montague and I did a little shopping and after a few trial and error purchases, we finally found a pair that fit that picky little man. HA!

 

-We were visiting with a member from the ward and she told us her conversion story. She said that she went to dinner at a woman's house named Benja Peterson and the missionaries were there!!! WHAT?!?! It's a small world. She said she started meeting with the missionaries and got baptized in about '97

 

-We were knocking doors and knew we had just enough time to knock one more door. We picked a house let looked safe and decided to knock. A woman opened the door and invited us in to pray with her and her sister. They both felt the Spirit so strong and knew that God had sent us. We had a return appointment with them last night and she shared that she had prayed for people to come to her house and teach her about what church she should go to. She promised God that she would open the door to the next church people that came to her house. We shared the Restoration and they kept shaking their heads, "yes" and told us they knew it was true.

 

-We were on a couple hour exchange with our Sister Training leaders and Sister Calvo and I were going to knock in our area. We decided on an apartment building and walked up to the first people we saw. We introduced ourselves and told them where the church was. They told us that they had been to that church and got married there. Sis. Calvo and I were nodding our heads, "nice!" but thinking, "they don't know what church they're talking about"...haha. They continued explaining how they had gotten baptized there last year and pulled up pictures of their baptism. Sure enough they were standing by four missionaries (one of which was Sister Nimer). We couldn't believe it. They explained how they had moved and didn't have a ride to church. We're going to be meeting with them and helping them come back.

 

-Last miracle I'll share for the week...We were waiting in line at Chipotle when a man came up to us and handed us $20.00. We looked at it and said, "what?". He explained that he was paying for our dinner and that he and his family were all visiting from Utah for a cruise. His father was a Mission President in South Carolina and Worked in the DC Temple and in the Salt Lake City Temple Square mission. It was really fun to see all those people from Utah.

 

This week I've enjoyed reading the account of Abinadi. That man is my hero. He had so much faith and trust in God that he was willing to sacrifice his whole life for Him. His hope and courage came when he knew God and knew the Plan of Salvation. He may have not seen the fruits of his labors, but Alma went away from that experience and baptized 204 souls.

 

I love you all so much and hope you have the best week everrrrrrr!

 

Sincerely, Sister Matheson

 

Pics:

 Is this really necessary..?

With Andre

Week 45 I'm not in Pines anymore

I got transferred to....HOLLYWOOD NORTH!!!!!! Also known as HollyHOOD.... Let's just say I'm not in Pines any more.

I'm "greenie breaking" Sister Gardner's "baby", Sister Montague. She's from North East California. She's amazing! She's 22 and SO easy going. We are already teaching in full Comp Unity. It's great. We live in a cute little old house with two other Spanish Sisters; Sister Heacock and Sister Torallba. 

I love having more roommates.

 

I am so in love with the people here. The ward is amazing too. On Saturday night they had an "International Dinner" to raise money for the Young Women's camp. I had Haitian food, Venezuelan food, Hawaiian food, etc.  We had a lesson with a Jamaican and I kept thinking, "man, I thought I was an English missionary...." HA! We pray for the 'gift of tongues' in order to even understand the people who ARE speaking English.

 

We were knocking doors in a run-down neighborhood, (also known as the ghetto. Don't worry Mom and Dan...I'm safe!) and we started talking to a YSA age girl. She said she already knew all about Joseph Smith and wouldn't accept a Resto pamphlet. Basically she was all confused about prophets no matter how many times we explained that the same prophets in the Bible that she believed in were PROPHETS! Oh well, I taught her how to play a couple cords on the guitar so we left on good terms:)

 

On Saturday we needed to find new investigators so we prayed to know where we should knock doors. We pulled up to the neighborhood and a woman answered the first door we knocked on. She invited us into her home to say the prayer and gathered all of her children along with the neighbor friends who were there. We said the prayer, all kneeling on their floor and afterwards explained our role as missionaries. The woman said that she could feel a good spirit about us and agreed to have us come back and talk to her more about the church. We gave her the Book of Mormon and her face lit up as we gave it to her. 

She said that she would definitely read it. MILAGROS!

 

Anyways, I hope you all have a peachy week and keep praying for missionary opportunities. Love you!

 

Sincerely,

Sister Matheson

 

pics:

 

"Mom and dad" Oliver

Our cute little house

The bedroom

The kitchen

The view of our house from the front door

Food from the International dinner

The view from one of our members apartments. She fed us dinner last night.

My amazing new companion!!!

 

Week 44

I'M BEING TRANSFERRED!!!!! Tomorrow at the transfer meeting I will find out who my companion is and where I will be transferred to. I'm excited for a fresh start:)

 

This week, on Wednesday, we were on our way to see a less active member with the few minutes we had left at the end of the night. On the way I felt impressed to drive down a certain street. As I turned around and headed in the direction I felt, I felt prompted to stop and park somewhere to knock doors instead. We all agreed on a door that we felt to knock first. A 25 year old guy came to the door and agreed to let us pray with him. He invited his mother to join us as well. They expressed how they had been going through a hard time and knew that God had sent us. After sharing the prayer with them they agreed to let us come back and teach them more. The next day we met her husband. We taught them a short lesson and during the closing prayer both him and his wife were in tears. It all came from the whisperings of the still small voice.

One of our investigators from the Pines area came to church! She had missed sacrament the last time she came, but this week we walked out of ward council and there she was!!! It was fast and testimony meeting and our investigator was so touched by everyone's testimonies that she cried. Her and her daughter were able to stay afterwards and watch the baptism of an 8 year old girl. They LOVED it. We kept talking to them about what it would be like at THEIR baptism and they were excited about it.

I've been going through the Book of Mormon this past week and marking every reference to the names of Jesus Christ or God. So far I've written down 40 different names they are called. Every single page has their names multiple times and it's very interesting to see them highlighted. We were teaching a man this week and he was having a hard time accepting that the Book of Mormon was "another testament of Jesus Christ". I was able to explain that on every page you will find his name, multiple times, and bare my testimony that it is a testament that He lives. The spirit was so strong and he accepted the invitation to read it and pray about it.

 

Just a fun thought I had about sharing the gospel: We don't need to be afraid of what people will think of us as we share our testimony and INVITE others because either they will accept the gospel and thank us in Heaven for our invitation, OR they will reject it and they won't be in Heaven with us anyways...is that too harsh? Maybe, but it gave me confidence in doing what I'm doing. EVERY MEMBER A MISSIONARY!!!!

 

Last P-day we went to the Everglades Holiday Park and watched a little show where a man "wrestled" an alligator. I finally felt like I was in Florida...weird! haha

 

We were walking around the NOVA campus to talk to people and we offered this student a card about Jesus. He said, "Only if you take one of these coconuts". We said of course!! Come to find out he had climbed the palm tree and picked the coconut minutes earlier. He then sat on the side walk RIGHT THERE and opened it with his bare hands for us......

Only in FL man...

 

I love you all! I'll let you know where I end up next week. 

ADIOS! BUENOS DIAS!

 

Sincerely, Sister Matheson

 

Pics:

Everglades Holiday Park

Crazy Gator wrestler!

Coconut from NOVA guy

Avocados are HUGE in FL!!

 

Farewell to the Trio!!

Week 43

This week.....

 

1. We went on two temple tours. One with a Recent Convert (who loved it!) and one with a potential investigator. I loved teaching there because the spirit was so strong they couldn't deny it. It was also neat to see all the other missionaries there, doing the same thing. We got to take them into the waiting room and just sit and feel the spirit. It made me miss the temple so much more! GO THERE WHILE YOU CAN!!!

2. We were trying to contact a referral that we had received, but when the guard called from the gate he didn't answer. By some miracle the guard let us in anyways and we went straight to his house. An older man answered the door and explained that the person we were looking for was his son who wouldn't be back for another hour. As we left and got in the car another car pulled into their driveway. We got out and introduced ourselves, finding out that he was the one we were looking for. It was a 16 year old boy who had been taught quite a few lessons by the missionaries in Orlando. He loved what he had learned and he had been waiting for us. He was leaving town, but we plan to see him this coming week. You never know what fruits might come of the seeds you plant. 

3. We were also able to teach seminary this week. We taught about how simple it is to share the gospel with our friends by sharing simple principles and testimony. We showed them how to role play and split off into groups so that they could try. We gave them all pass along cards to give out that day. It's funny to see how much I've grown from then till now. THANK GOODNESS FOR MISSIONS!!!!!!!

4. I actually spoke in both the Pines ward and the Nova YSA branch yesterday. Talk about nerve racking! I think it went pretty well though. I realized how simple it is to talk when I prepare myself DAILY and study from Preach my gospel as well.

 

5. We had interviews with President Richardson. That man is so loving. HE IS CALLED OF GOD!!! I look up to him so much. I truly believe that I was called here for HIM to be my mission President.

 

I've been studying a lot about being sanctified in the Book of Mormon and Bible. 

I love how it is a PROCESS and something that we work at everyday. As long as we're repenting FREQUENTLY and prepare ourselves for the sacrament weekly, the Holy Ghost will be able to sanctify us.

 

Love you all!

 

Sincerely,

Sister Matheson

 

 

Pics

-Last P-day we went "mountain" biking with our district. 

(Fake, man-made "mountains"). 

It was fun to get out and explore Florida a little bit. 

Temple Tours

 

Week 42

There were so many amazing things that happened this week I'll just have to brake it down for you in bullet points....

 

-This week our mission expanded! It now includes the Fort Myers zone from the Tampa mission. It's a third bigger now (I'll send you a pic of the new boundaries). We didn't know anything about it and neither did the missionaries over there. They had a meeting with their mission President on Wednesday where he told them they would now be a part of the FFLM and then President Richardson and the AP's walked in. CRAZY!!! We heard about it in a conference call that night. One of their Zone Leaders became our third AP and they did a few Emergency Transfers. I guess the First Presidency approved this a long time ago, but they were waiting for the right time to officially make the change.

 

-This week we were going through our List of Potential Elders and found out that one of them had moved. We were able to say a prayer with some of the people who had moved in. We left with them a chapel card and a Restoration pamphlet. As we got to our car we received a phone call from the woman who lived there. She explained that she had been in the Restroom and wanted us to come back to tell her more about our church. We quickly went back and said a prayer with the rest of their family. On Saturday we did a chapel tour with them and on Sunday they came to church! Sadly, they came just AFTER the sacrament, but they still felt the Spirit and we set them all with a date in two Sundays. God definitely provides people to teach when we follow the council of our leaders, (Elder Zwick's training and encouragement for Sisters to work with Potential Elders).

-Nova Had a Baptism on Sunday and two confirmations! Although Sister Anderson and I weren't able to teach them for very long we still were grateful to be a part of their story of coming closer to Jesus Christ. It boosted our motivation to continue finding families in Pines to baptize and confirm.

 

Funny Story: 

We were at Walgreens picking up my prescription and Sister Hartley started talking to this old Cuban woman. As I walked over, the first thing she said was, "You have such nice legs, you have the nicest legs out of the three of you". hahaha oh my....When we left we were saying a prayer with a woman in the parking lot. The Cuban woman drove by and started honking and waving at us during the prayer. 

This week I studied Alma 49 in the Book of Mormon. Never before has the Spirit touched me and taught me like it did when I read that chapter. As I read I pondered how Moroni is like our Modern day prophet. When we heed his council and "fortify" ourselves we are protected from the adversary (Amalickiah). It repeats over and over how they were "prepared" which made me ponder on the importance of our time to "prepare" as missionaries. Our study times are so sacred because they truly "prepare" us for the "stones and arrows" that are thrown our way. 

 

Sincerely, Sister Matheson

 

Pics:

Jason's Baptism

We did a "mini mission" with our bishops daughter. 

She leaves next week for Ukrain, Russian speaking

cats for days!!! yes, I got new glasses

 

Week 41

THIS WEEK WAS SO GOOD!!!!

 

First of all, We're in a TRIO now!!!  One of our STL's had to go home this morning for back surgery so now Sister Hartley (from Alberta Canada) is with us. We will be serving in both Pines and her area, Nova YSA. We will be in our Trio for the next three weeks. 

We're SO FREAKING EXCITED!!! This will be the fourth trio of my mission.

 

Elder Zwick and his wife came. They are SO incredible. Even just being in the same room as them you could feel the spirit. They did a special leadership/missionary fireside on Wednesday night down in Miami Lakes. He talked a lot about how the members need to be the ones to find and the missionaries need to be the ones to teach because the work is really hastening.

 

On Friday there was a special mission training/conference with him and we all went through and got to shake his hand and hug his wife. They just peered into my soul. No big deal. Someone also volunteered me to lead the music for the whole thing which was a surprise to me. I jumped up there and after the song, Elder Zwick thanked me by name. I wanted to share a few things that stuck out to me from what he said....

 

In order to stop the comparison of numbers between missionaries we must have one thing on our mind, "Have I done all that I could today?" If we can honestly kneel down every night and say "God, wilt thou accept the very best I could've done today?" 

Than we are doing ok. That applies not only for missionary work, 

but for our every day lives.

 

" I will never limit myself by what I think is my capacity, 

I will allow the Lord to expand my capacity and HE WILL!!!"

 

Mark 1:17

 

"If you're willing to change YOU WILL BECOME"

 

 

We ate dinner with a part member family this week and the Dad said that he would come to Sacrament meeting on Sunday. He is very sarcastic so we shrugged it off, thinking that he was joking. On Sunday his wife came and sat by us and said, "I have a surprise for you...I think *first name* is actually coming!" We couldn't believe it. Right then He walked in and sat on the same row as us. MILAGROS!

 

We also helped a less active family paint their garage on Saturday and they came to Church on Sunday. Service=softened hearts.

 

Funny story: I was moving stuff around in my closet last night to make room for Sister Hartley's things. I moved my luggage and SCREAMED like a little girl because there was a gecko hiding in there. I continued screaming every time it moved for about 20 minutes. Mind you, we were also on the phone with our District Leader and they stayed on the phone to hear the whole thing. Finally Sister Anderson was able to get it in a Tupperware container and through it outside. I'm such a girl. Hahah

 

I love you all so much!!!

 

Sincerely, Sister Matheson

 

 

Week 40 - Happy New Year 2015

HAPPY 2015!!!!! I can't believe 2014 has already come and gone. On New Years Eve a member took us to an Argentine bakery and we got Empanadas. SO GOOD!!! 

I don't know how I will ever live without Latin food. 

I guess I'll just have to make it for you all when I get home.

I can't believe that my HALF WAY MARK has already come and gone as well! SO WEIRD!!! I can't even describe how weird that feels...anyways

 

     This week we had an exchange with our STL's on my 9-month "Birthday". We all met up at ihop for breakfast to celebrate. I got to work in the Nova YSA (Young Single Adults) area with Sister Coates. We went harvesting in a ghetto neighborhood. It was quite the experience for me. I LOVED it! We talked to some homies and some stray dogs followed us and everything. We went to follow up with some people that they had prayed with and they lived right by Hollywood beach. I could just feel the moisture in the air. It was exactly what I thought about when I thought about serving in Florida...weird how my mission has been nothing like that! HA.

 

     Friday we went to a Recent Converts house for her Birthday. Her neighbor made REAL Italian Lasagna. It was THE. BEST. LASAGNA. I'VE. EVER HAD.!!! No joke. I felt like Bob from "What about Bob" the whole time just telling her over and over how good it was. I had to take pictures. She didn't even use marinara or mozzarella like you would think. She also made the best carrot cake I've ever had. (Dad, you should be jealous. I'll send you a pic). Man, now I'm hungry...

 

     On Sunday there was a member visiting from Nicaragua who brought her non-member cousin whom she was staying with. They came up to us and introduced themselves. We asked her how she felt at church and she said she really felt good. They stayed for all three hours. After church we found out that they don't live in our area, but it really boosted my faith and I have no doubt that God will compensate for our efforts when we do all we can.

    

This week I realized a couple areas that I need to improve on. I feel as though most people desire to see results immediately. I definitely fall under that category as well, especially when it comes to missionary work. I want to help people so badly because I love them so much and it's a little frustrating when I can't see the impact I'm having.  I reflected on our purpose and realized that the only thing we can do is INVITE!!! We can't even be the ones to help them, only Jesus Christ can do that. I reflected on Joseph Smith and how he didn't get to see the full impact that he had until he had already passed away. I know now that God can be and is proud of us when we do all we can do, but when the end result isn't as we had hoped, we can still feel edified because we know we did what we've been called here to do. Just some thoughts.

 

I love you all so much. Thank you for your emails, prayers, and support. 

I hope you all have an amazing week and keep doing the BASICS!!!

 

Sincerely, Sister Matheson

 

pics:

 

Art in Hollywood

Amazing Carrot Cake

THE. BEST. LASAGNA. I'VE. EVER HAD!!!

 Rose and I on her birthday

 Sister Anderson and Rose on her birthday

 Sister Anderson and I

Sister Coates and I

 My 9 month "Birthday" Breakfast Party