Florida Fort Lauderdale Mission // April 2014-October 2015

Monday, April 6, 2015

Week 53

I'M A YEAR OLD!!!!! WAHHOOOO 
I never thought I'd be this old on the mission....I'm excited to learn and grow even more over these next 6 months. Watching General Conference was a wonderful way to remember a year ago when I sat in the MTC, watching it with hundreds of other missionaries like myself. I can't believe how fast the time has gone. 

Our investigator, Niarobi, got baptized!!!! Her whole family made it just in time to witness the step she was making. Her stepfather even cried! While watching her get baptized, Sister Morrow and I had our arms around each other and I wanted to soak every moment of it up. I know this is what I'm supposed to be doing at this time in my life. Nothing is more exciting than seeing the joy of repentance in other people's lives. She was the one we found after the specialized training when the AP's promised that we'd find a family!

Our Mission did AMAZING things in the month of march #miraclemarch with the help of God. Here is a snip bit from President Richardson's email this week:

While listening to General Conference and the announcement of the new temple being built in Haiti, everyone was so excited! It's been a blessing to be able to work with and teach the wonderful Haitian people while here in Florida. I could not be more excited for them and their families as the missionary work in Haiti is really going to pick up with the addition of the temple. 

"First let me say how “proud” I am of “all of you”, for your great effort in finding and teaching and working with those ”elect”, & to bring to the waters of baptism…! And thanks to all of your efforts, we were able to achieve our goal, and be blessed with “101” Convert Baptisms, and 34 Rescues….which added a total of 135 additional souls joining together with us in the Sacrament Meetings across this Wonderful Mission."

This week I felt God compensating all of our efforts. We made sure that we were out, knocking everyday and we even took the opportunity to ride our bikes and talk to everyone we met. We did not, however, meet anyone while knocking who seemed very interested in baptism or church. We knew that, because we were obedient, God would provide a way for us to find new people to teach. When we returned home on Friday night, the Zone Leaders called us with a referral!!! They had found a family of 5! We were so excited...we may have been jumping up and down and then quickly knelt in prayer to thank our Heavenly Father. 

After our prayer we received another phone call from the Elders, telling us that they had gone through their list of potentials and called a woman who wanted us to come pray with her. After General Conference, we went to her house and  said a prayer with her. After the Prayer we shared a short lesson and Sister Morrow felt prompted to invite her to be baptized with a specific date. When we asked her she immediately ran to get her phone, telling us that she was going to request work off so that she could be BAPTIZED!!! She told us she had never been baptized, but had promised herself that when she turned 21 she would be and then we showed up. 

I love you all! Make sure that you're doing the little things: Family prayer, scripture study, studying PREACH MY GOSPEL!!! Seriously, it makes a difference. It's that 1% improvement that makes a difference. 

Sincerely, Sister Matheson
 
Pics:


 Niarobi, got baptized!!!!
 

The cutest "FROZEN" Cookies ever from the cutest Arnold's ever!


We celebrated my 1 year mark by eating free Popeyes! 
(Missionaries eat free at the one in our area. BLESSINGS!)

 Forgiven

We may or may not have made our bedroom into the most epic fort of all time...
Easter Morning!
Watching General Conference at the Church!

A member fed all ten of the missionaries in between sessions of conference
 
Just chillin' in the hood with our good less active friend.
I finally got all the cards for my Birthday:)
 

Me today!


 
 

Monday, March 30, 2015

Week 52

My Birthday was so amazing!!!!!!!
Thank you all for the love you sent my way. It was greatly appreciated. On my B-day we had a Specialized Training for half of the South Zones of the mission. I was sung "Happy Birthday" along with all the other Birthday babies from March. We also went to Moonlite Diner and Got a referral for another Church....
#missionlife . 

Our 14 year old investigator, *N*, is set to be baptized this Tuesday, the 31st. We showed up at their door on Sunday morning and she told us she wasn't going to make it to church. We didn't take that for an answer. We told them the importance of coming to church in order for her to prepare for her baptism and she got ready right then to come. She even brought one of her friends with her who agreed to come to her baptism.

We got a phone call from one of our members saying that he had someone for us to teach. He had been in the line at a grocery store and started bearing his testimony about how the church he attended was the SAME church that Jesus Christ established when he was on the earth. We met up with that man and the member yesterday and the man agreed to read the Book of Mormon and have us back over to say a prayer with him.

We were going to visit a part member family and prayed to be able to meet new people as we walked to their house. When we got out of the car I noticed a woman sitting on the porch of a nearby house. We went right up to her and when we offered to give her a picture of Jesus Christ and say a prayer with her she started crying, telling us that she knew that we were coming to help her when she saw us get out of the car. She accepted a return appointment. (She also told us that she has been dealing with depression so Sister Morrow and I were able to connect with her).

I studied in Joseph Smith history today. I loved the part where he was praying with all the energy of his heart and how he continued to pray, even when the adversary was so strong. It was only because he continued to pray faithfully that he was able to see Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. 

Funny/weird moment of the week: 
While driving past the local cemetery, I looked over and noticed two nuns, dressed in all white, taking "selfies" by some grave sites...? Normal? I think not. 

Love you all!!!

Sincerely, Sister Matheson
Pics:
The sisters decorated for my Birthday!

Love my dad's art work

Birthday in a box

Happy 20th Birthday!

South Zone
 
 
Friday FroYo

My favorite place on earth (besides Good Earth of coarse)


"Birthday Cake" flavored gum

Our little "tea Party"

Sister Morrow and I

Monday, March 23, 2015

Week 51

My new companion is Sister Morrow! This is her 3rd transfer so I'm "greenie breaking" again. She's amazing. She is from Centerville UT and just the sweetest thing.This week as Sister Morrow and I got to work, a spirit of reassurance poured over me of how well my Father in Heaven knows me. I know that we are supposed to be companions. I have already learned so much from her dedication, obedience, and diligence. This is going to be a great transfer filled with great things.
We had an amazing temple visit on Wednesday night with our investigators Felicia and her daughter Niarobi. From the moment they stepped out of their car they were taking pictures of the temple and commenting on how beautiful it was. Our amazing members assisted us in giving the tour and afterwards we taught them about the Law of Chastity. Felicia is so set on being baptized and doing what God wants of her that she said that she would definitely talk to her boyfriend about getting married. Felicia and Niarobi came to church on Sunday and were welcomed with the warm embracing arms of the members. 
The Young Women leaders even invited Niarobi to join them at Girl's Camp this week!
I have been pondering this week on the Spirit and how I can recognize it better. I have often wondered at times when I follow the Spirit and nothing happens, if it was truly a prompting or my own thoughts. I found comfort in the 20th and 21st Chapter of Alma. Aaron is prompted to go teach the Amalekites in their synagogues. As he does so, they reject him and the words he shares. He leaves, staying faithful despite the rejection. I believe that at this point, a lot of us would question what we had just done and if it was truly from God. However, Aaron never did. He continued on, acting on the promptings that he received and went to teach a King, converting him and all of his kingdom. I believe that God was trying his faith in order to bless him with this amazing miracle.
I love you all so incredibly much. 
I am proud of the missionary work that you are all doing. Keep it up! 
No effort is ever wasted!
Sincerely, Sister Matheson
 Pics:
My new Comp. Sister Morrow



Sister Morrow and I

With Niarobi and Felicia

Ft Lauderdale Temple
Florida mail boxes though...
Sister Morrow is allergic to milk so we have fun finding Dairy free desserts. Don't judge!


Tuesday, March 17, 2015

Week 50

Transfer call was last night and........

I'M STAYING IN HOLLYWOOD NORTH! I'm super excited too because Sister Torralba is staying in Hollywood Hills West so we still get to live in the same house. Too bad Sister Heacock is transferring...I've really LOVED this trio!:)

Our Recent Convert (in Hollywood Hills Ward), Julia, had a session of Chemo right after her Baptism. We couldn't meet with her for a week, but when it was finally ok for us to go see her she let us know of one of the biggest miracles I've ever witnessed on my mission. Before she was baptized and when they first found the cancer, her tumor was over 5 cm. When she went in next it had gone down to 2 cm and after her baptism THEY COULDN'T EVEN FIND IT!!! God definitely is a God of Miracles. 

We've been teaching our investigator, Felicia, and her daughter Niarobi. They recognize the need for baptism and they are definitely Elect because they came to Stake Conference. Afterwards we talked to them about how they liked it. 
They accepted baptism for the 4th of April

On Wednesday we were hungry and decided to stop at Tijuana Flats to grab something to eat. The girl who took my order got all excited and told me that she was actually a member who was less active. She told us that she had been wanting to come back and asked us where the local building was. As I paid she said, "hold on a second. My manager has been wanting to know more about the church". When they both came over, the first thing he said was, "do you have a Book of Mormon". 
"Of course", we said. He then told us that he had been to the Temple Open house with his family and LOVED it. Such a tender mercy. God works in mysterious ways. 

I found a scripture this week while looking at cross references in 
the Book of Mormon. 
It is 1Peter 3:15 "But Sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear:" 

I love you all!!!!

Sincerely, Sister Matheson
Pics of the Week:

Elder from Trinidad at our P-day activity

Smoothies from the Farmers Market

My Indian pants from the Farmers Market

Sisters with Bindi's

With Sister Davidson

Sister Davidson is awesome
Friday FroYo's are the BEST!
Chillin' with the Elders after Stake Conference
Getting ready for work at Deseret Book (someday) 
Twinning with Sister T
I'm gonna miss these girls!

My 11 Month Picture!

My new boyfriend
 
Trio by a Mural