Monday, July 27, 2015

The Need to Testify...

HOLA!
This week FLEW. They always do... 
Especially when they are so stellar like this week :)

We had a precious lesson with Ester, our investigator that is learning how to read, We had left her the pamphlet of the Restoration and told her that she could look at the pictures and try to start reading it. When we got there she had the book sitting on the table and told us she had been studying....  we asked her to share.. humbly she said..."Dios es nuestro amoroso Padre Celestial..." So cute. I loved seeing her effort :) Effort is key.

This week we went to visit Rosa with a less active (Cesar´s mom Nancy, we are helping him prepare to be baptized) It was such a powerful lesson. Nancy shared her testimony and brought the spirit so strongly. Afterwards she told us that it felt SO good to testify, she said...
"Sometimes... one just needs to testify to be able to remember what you already know..." So powerful. A Testimony is a spiritual gift, if we don´t use it we lose it. And if we don´t share it we are just selfish...  
I love watching her family change, and help others along the way. Cesar is learning so well, because of the dedication of his mom. Mom´s truly are the best teachers. :)

This week we decided to visit our good old friend Alicia... (who told us she needed some time, we used the good ol´ "we were in the neighborhood and needed a bathroom" excuse...) We had thought about sharing about family history. Then we asked her how she was doing and told us that she had just been looking through old family photos, and sharing family stories with her cousins. We talked to her a little about the temple and how we can help our ancestors, and in the end she ended up giving us the names of her brothers and Dad´s names, so we can help her give them that chance. :) So precious.

The biggest miracle this week was an ALB (a street contact) named Cristina Luz (all week I had the hymn.. Divina Luz stuck in my head hahaha)  Anyways... we knocked on her door on her birthday (quite the birthday present hahaha :) And she said we could come back. When we came back it was like she had been waiting for us to come back. She is so precious. Her life is a literal miracle. We asked her how she has felt God´s love in her life and she told us that when she was four she had an accident and was in a coma for a month, and the last day when they were about to pull the cord, she miracously opened her eyes. Wow. She has a strong testimony of our Heavenly Father´s love. 

We invited her to come to church.... and SHE CAME :) Yay. The members all treated her so well. She enjoyed it. Our bishop pulled us aside to chat with her for a minute.. .introduce himself. And he was explaining how the church really helps us and that its a hospital for the sick and that whatever she is looking for she can find here. And her response was so inspiring... she said..."Many times in my life I have been in bad situations... and really needed help, he has always helped me... right now, I feel good.. more than anything I am looking to give thanks, give back to Him..." I thought about that and it really hit me... what a BLESSING we have to be able to have the church that helps us SERVE Him. :)

I love being a missionary. There are good times, there are hard times, and there are REALLY hard times, but at the end of everyday I am always thankful to be here serving my Heavenly Father as a representative of Jesus Christ :)

Con Amor, Hermana Matheson



Monday, July 20, 2015

Perfect Love

 Hola Amigos :)
This week started out a little rough, with the death of a member in our ward. Their family is pretty much the rock of our ward. She was in the relief society presidency and was such an example. She passed away from a brain anneurism (no idea how to spell that). It was a rough week for the ward. I feel so blessed to have known her. Her last Sunday here, the sunday before she passed away she wrote the names of all the sisters who didn´t come that day and explained the importance of visiting teaching and rescuing the lost sheep. What an example :) Her funeral was beautiful. I remember sitting in the chapel looking around at a whole room of people who loved her and listening to the beautiful testimonies of members and just thinking how beautiful is this gospel. This is not the end. I loved watching her sweet family strengthen everyone else, of course they were sad, but yet so comforted because of the light of Christ... 
 "..and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing—sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life."

This week we started teaching the son of a less active family that lives above us. It was so funny, one day we were doing our afternoon studies and we hear a note slip under the door, so we go look and it was the cutest little note that said..."Hermanas... I want to get baptized, will you help me get ready?" Something on the lines of that... in seven year old handwritting hahaha :) so cute. He loves it when we come and teach him. But the best part is watching his family reactivate. They came to church this sunday. :) Yay :)

Also our dear friend Rosa is doing great things. Reading haha :) I love teaching her, she´s so cute. Everytime we come for a lesson she says...."Hola... Corazooones..." She loves us :) I love watching her put pieces together. 

This week we also had our training in Mendoza for the first 12 weeks. Something I really took away is just how important our calling is and to teach boldly, and valiantly. I have really tried to apply it this week. And it is amazing the difference it makes. Our message is important. Really important. In fact the most important message that existed. EVER.  In my studies this morning I came across this beautiful scripture.... 
I speak with boldness, having authority from God; and I fear not what man can do; for perfect love casteth out all fear

If we truly love Perfectly ... there is no fear in teaching. We want people to gain eternal life and we say what we need to say....  :) What a blessing :)


Con Amor, Hermana Matheson

BOWLING!

 It was my comps first time bowling. She was so funny :)

This typícal lunch... a huge plate of Fideos and Tuco.... #pastafordays....

Lunch with Ester. Our new investigator :) 



What He Needs...

Hola Amigos :)
Today is a new Day, a New Week, and a New Transfer... and a New month, for me another month of serving my Heavenly Father as a full time missionary, today I complete 11 months. Holy Moly. Time is a flyin`, but I am so grateful for every new day I have to serve :) 

This week there were some stellar moments. Hard ones too. Like every week :) Our friend Yanina told us about how her son has been telling her how her son really wants to come to church. And how she feels the need to help him find the right church. He`s only 5. So cute. Kids are truly instruments in the hands of the Lord. 

This week we found Marcos a 23 year old. He is SO prepared. He is a runner and is so dedicated to everything he does. And literally lives the Word of Wisdom to a T. Even the meat part.... (which is REAL rough here, for Argentina... if there isn`t meat on the table its not a meal...#meatcapitaloftheworld) Anyways we went with two YSA this week and wow, it was such a good lesson. He expressed his desires to understand Gods plan for him, and to help his family get through the hard times. My comp was super valiant and put a fecha with such confidence. He accepted :) 

Stella and her daughter Ludmilla continue to battle with their progress, but are putting forth a great effort. This week in our lesson Stella told us about how much she has learned about the  power of prayer she said "I never knew that I could actually talk with God, its so much more effective than reciting, I really feel he listens..."

This week we found a cute little lady named Ester. She lives all alone, and has a really rough life. We were actually on our way to contact an ALB and asked her for an address and she said we could come in for a minute. She opened up to us and told her about her difficulites. Poor girl. She was so happy we were there. She told us that she had just been at her friends house and felt she needed to come home. :) Also, we are going to teach her how to read!

This week in Sunday School... we had an AMAZING lesson (the teacher is literally amazing, brings everyone to tears every week) We talked about discipleship and what Christ`s earthly ministry means for us right here right now that, his work continues today and what it means to truly be his disciple... she shared a talk by Jeffrey R. Holland (The First Great Commandment... look it up... its amazing).... I LOVE this quote.... He talks about the conversation Christ had with Peter... I like to imagine he is talking to me.....
What I need, (Aubree), are disciples -and I need them forever. I need someone to feed my sheep and save my lambs. I need someone to preach my gospel and defend my faith. I need someone who loves me, truly, truly loves me, and loves what our Father in Heaven has commissioned me to do. Ours is not a feeble message. It is not a fleeting task. It is not hapless; it is not hopeless; it is not to be consigned to the ash heap of history. It is the work of Almighty God, and it is to change the world. So, (Aubree), for the second and presumably the last time, I am asking you to leave all this (distractions... haha) and to go teach and testify, labor and serve loyally...
 What a blessing it is to be HIS disciples. Not just for now but forever :)

Con Amor, Hermana Matheson

Thursday, July 9, 2015

The Power of A Prayer

HOLA Amigos :)
It is officially winter here and really cold. Well nothing compared to Utah winter but it´s still enough to make it feel like real winter. Such a weird thought that in Utah its blazin´ summer. Definitely not here, fun fact this week as we rushed out the door in the morning I grabbed what I thought were my gloves and once we were already in the street I realized they were my socks. So I walked around all morning with socks on my hands. Real cool.

Also... I am officially 20 years old. Holy moly. I really feel like I was turning 16 yesterday. Its definitely not fair how fast life is flying. But this birthday I really took a second to think about how AMAZING these 20 years of life have been. I have been so blessed to meet so many people, have so many life changing experiences and to be where I am today. I am excited to see what the rest of my life has in store... The best is yet to come right? That means its´s gonna be the best ever. :) I am SO blessed.

This week we visited a lady that we found last week. We were knocking doors, and she answered and she told us she was in a hurry and Catholic, we asked if we could just say a prayer with her real quick. She let us come in and she told us that she was having difficulties with her husband and had JUST been praying for help. We asked if we could pass by the next week just to "see how she was and maybe share something small" haha.... works every time. We came back this week and had a full blown lesson. But the best part, her daughter was there and at first seemed super stand offish and sat down and was half listening half texting, but little by little started to pay more attention. We got to know them better and started getting to know their needs. So golden. At the end of the lesson we asked Marianna (the daughter) if she would say the prayer. She was hesitant at first but in the end offered the prayer. It was so powerful. She ended in tears. The power of prayer is real, and is KEY in missionary work. In fact this week we had Zone conference and they put a lot of emphasis in the importance of having the investigators pray even when they don´t want to.... We looked at three scriptures...

 For if ye would hearken unto the Spirit which teacheth a man to pray, ye would know that ye must pray; for the evil spirit teacheth not a man to pray, but teacheth him that he must not pray (2 Nephi 32:8).

And they would not be baptized; neither would they join the church. And they were a separate people as to their faith, and remained so ever after, even in their carnal and sinful state; for they would not call upon the Lord their God. (Mosiah 26:4).

Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.
For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened (3 Nephi 14:7-8).

This week I have really seen the change that prayer brings when an investigator is willing "call upon the Lord their God", without prayer... we remain in a "carnal and sinful state".... He truly wants to help us and wants to bless us, but can´t until we humbly call upon him through prayer. I am so grateful for the power of prayer in my life. :) 
Con Amor, Hermana Matheson

 ZONDA. So pretty. 

 My cool comp and I sittin' on an indian head.


 Our cool sista friends from Pocito :)


 Selfie.

 Our cute friend Argentina. She´s the sweetest.

 World´s best bakery. Gave me 80 pesos worth of delicious things for my birthday. They are the best. We are great friends by now, sadly enough haha :)

 Cremona birthday cake hahah :) I love the Acerbi family.

 The Ortiz family, they live above us. So cute. Gave me a cake.

 Mirta too.. Cake for DAYZ

 20th Birthday! Say what?

Happy Fourth of JULY! My favorite holiday ever.
Also... my comp... such a good sport. I made her rep the USA too :)