A Labor of Love: S.M.I.L.E

Hola Amigos!

....And the weeks just keep on flyin! Time truly flies when you`re having fun right?! Haha :)

This week we had a real special treat... A Worldwide Missionary Training. They haven`t done one for 10 years and I barely got to see it (saved by a couple weeks!) It was so amazing. Every time I hear from our Church Leaders my strong testimony of a living prophet and 12 apostoles is reassured. They are truly His servants. A couple things I LOVED....

· Elder Anderson told a story about one time Elder Scott went to a meeting to speak in a different country and as he was shaking everyone`s hand as he left... a little old lady slipped a piece of paper in his hand... When he read it said something like this... "Your words were beautiful and I enjoyed your talk, but I really came all this way to hear your powerful testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ." He promised that day that he would ALWAYS have the Savior's name in his words, that he would NEVER forget to testify of Him. I made that same promise. As a missionary we are HIS representatives and testifying of Him is our greatest responsibility.

· "I know you talk to everyone who will listen to you, wherever you are- in a bus, on the street, in a teaching situation, or in a home with a member; if you are ever unsure of what to say, speak of the Savior. Testify of HIm. Speak of His doctrine, of faith in Him and His Atonement, repentance, baptism, the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. This is your purpose. This is your charge." -Elder Anderson

· Elder Oaks talked about Real Intent... that as we pray we should come unto Heavenly Father not because of curiosity but because we REALLY want to know what HE wants us to do, and because we are willing to do it.

· "Conversion is a miracle."-Christopher Waddell Amen to that. It`s the truth; everyday I just see the little but most profound changes in others and in myself. Conversion is a true miracle.

Our good friend Norma is just doing amazing things. After last week with Enrique leaving and all... I thought it was going to maybe slow down her progress... you know... one thing at a time. But this last Monday we just got talking about baptism and she realized.... "Ahh.. I could be baptized real soon!" So we talked about what the next steps would be... and of course.... to quit smoking. She`s been smoking since she was 13.... over 50 years. She expressed her sincere desires to quit and continue progressing... and wow... this week in the whole week she only lit 2 cigarettes and didn`t even finish smoking them. I would say that is some serious progress. She`s been struggling with accepting the fact that she has hardly any family, but she is little by little learning to trust in Heavenly Father`s promises and realize she is NOT alone.

This week with the Familia Rivera as we walked into their house we could feel something was up. Nestor had a look on his face... that just meant bad news. We finally got it out of him, that he just felt fed up... he said he was sick of doing good things when everything goes wrong for him. He said he would support his family but he was done with the church. Graciella right then and there just told him what she thought... she testified that she KNEW that all would be okay if they just kept going, and she told him that he was forgetting so many blessings. She said "pase lo que pase.... seguirè"... (whatever happens i`ll continue... it just sounds so much better in spanish haha) She talked about how Zoe was the example for them and that they needed to start picking up the pace. She is a champ. I really do love that family, and it kills me to see them going through so many hard times. But I know that when we do ALL we can to follow Him... He blesses us.

This week as I have seen so many investigators and members etc.. struggling with different challenges and just reflecting on how over the course of my mission I have seen so many people handle so many differently trials SO differently and a scripture came to my mind during studies....2 Nephi 9:39

"Remember, to be carnally-minded is death, and to be spirituallyminded is life eternal."

I remember learning that scripture in seminary and thinking it was so cool for the whole "SMILE" thing. But now... I truly understand it. When we think about the eternal perspective of things, when we think in the LONG RUN... our challenges and sorrows are all completely bearable... because we know that it`s just a test, and that if we handle it well... we will return to our Heavenly Father in a state of neverending Happiness. We know that we`re never really alone, and that any sacrifice we have to make now, is worth it in the end. It`s the only way we can make it through :) We CAN find Happiness amidst all our difficulties, we just gotta S.M.I.L.E.

Con Amor,
Hermana Matheson