A Labor of Love: The Doctrine of Christ

Hola AMIGOS!

Well things just keep getting better and better.... :)

..... but time just keeps going faster and faster.... :(

It was SUCH a good week. Very eventful, good eventful.

Starting with our dear friend Norma. Can I just say how much I respect and admire that little lady. She has so much will power and desire to truly do what Heavenly Father wants her to do. She has been going through some hard times, but doesn`t make excuses. She really hurt her knee and can hardly walk, she`s getting over her separation, AND she is quitting smoking. She`s going on a week now without a cigarette. That is some will power. When we have His will written on our hearts, he gives us the strength to obey.

"... and thus we see that the commandments of God must be fulfilled. And if it so be that the children of men keep the commandments of God he doth nourish them, and strengthen them, and provide means whereby they can accomplish the thing which he has commanded them."

She should be getting baptized this Friday! She`s so excited. As they announced it in Sacrament Meeting tears ran down her cheeks. She`s so happy. She can`t believe that after 15 years, it`s finally happening :)

Okay... Lots of little miracles this week. I`m serious it was a good week. Like THREE months ago a lady on the bus came up to us and asked us if we thought it was in God`s plan that someone be killed by someone else... and then she had to hurry and get off the bus. But as she was getting off, she told us more or less where she lived. So we kept going by and could never find her. Then this week we ran into her again... MIRACLE. And she let us come by that afternoon. And she was there this week! She told us about how her daughter was killed three years ago. But it was incredible to hear her amazing attitude about life. She has so much faith and such a positive outlook on life. She expressed how she knows that everything works out in the end and that there is always someone worse off than us that needs our help. What an example. Also... She has REALLY cool Dreadlocks. She`s the most hip 50 year old I`ve ever met. Haha :)

Other little miracle... Yesterday in church a lady and her son just randomly showed up at church. I had never seen them before. So after the meeting we went up to them and asked where they were from and how they got here and such. Her name is Omi and her son Max. She was born in Colombia, then lived in Spain for 20 years, and just moved to San Luis 7 months ago. Anyways... she asisted a Christian Church in Spain but always asked around for a good church, anyways she had heard lots of good things about the Church and seen lots of good examples. So yesterday she randomly decided to look up the church website and find where the Church was in San Luis. And she came. All on her own. She`s so cool! They both loved it! Next week they are going to bring the whole family! By small and simple things are great things brought to pass :)

....and one of the greatest miracles... The Stampononi Family FINALLY came to church! I knew they would. It just took time. And it was worth the wait. They loved it! It was such a beautiful sight to watch them walk in to the church together as a family. I felt pure joy. I know that Heavenly Father was even MORE happy to see them there :)

Also... Norma and Mario are just so stellar. Lately without even realizing it we`ve really been focusing on Norma when we teach them and in a lesson this week we realized that she REALLY has been progressing. We just couldn`t see it in the moment. At the end of our lesson we asked if she wanted to follow Christ... she said yes. And we continued asking her lots of inspired questions until... She accepted to come to church... Which has NEVER happened in 5 months. She got so excited. I have never seen her like that before. Here`s the truth though... she didn`t come... BUT... it was because she couldn`t put her shoes on... (that`s a new one) she woke up with her foot really swollen... and its true it was really swollen. But she is so excited to come next week. She taught me a valuable lesson... Never ever give up on anyone. :) Also... Mario is adorable... because it was the fifth Sunday we were all together for the third hour and the bishop was talking about what we have to do as a ward to get strong enough to eventually split into two wards... He talked about temple attendance and lots of other things... then he asked if anyone had any comments or questions... and Mario (not completely understanding the situation) stands up and says... "Bishop... I want to go to the temple... what do I have to do?" Awe. We helped him prepare to go to the temple in December but then the viaje got canceled. But he definitely hasn`t forgotten. He`s adorable. :)

Lots of "Lasts" this week.... :(..... this week... I had my last interview with President Goates. What a wise man. I can`t even begin to express my gratitude for such a dedicated Mission President. His example has completely changed my mission and my life. As I walked into that interview I was determined to just suck out all his knowledge and ask him about EVERYTHING. I just wanted to know how he does it, how he is so dedicated and so successful in all he does. And He told me.. .you know the secret? "Seek ye first the kingdom of God." He said that is the key to life, putting Him first in every aspect. When we put Heavenly Father first... it all works out. I promised him that I would always seek the kingdom of God first. I have seen the truthfulness of that promise as a missionary :)

Also... had my Last exchange..... With... Hermana Blair :) My bud. It was so fun to be with her and see how much we have grown in the mission. I remember our first exchange together when we both had like 4 months... Wow... Lots of change. Haha :) Anyways... during the day we were discussing how we`ve changed and what we feel like we`ve accomplished. Sometimes a mission is rough and we don`t feel like we`ve seen the "fruits" we were expecting. As the night ended we taught one last lesson, with the Rivera Family. We taught Lesson 3 "The Gospel of Jesus Christ" and as we taught, the spirit was there. We felt so much JOY and LOVE for the gospel. We taught with understanding, and as we walked out we realized that "THAT" is the greatest "fruit" we could possibly have. We have attained such a greater Love and Understanding for this beautiful gospel, for the Doctrine of Christ.

"Teach ye diligently and my grace shall attend you, that you may be instructed more perfectly in theory, in principle, in doctrine, in the law of the gospel, in all things that pertain to the kingdom of God, that are expedient for you to understand." (D&C 97:14)

I understand it and I LOVE it. I truly know that it is perfect :) And as I start my last week as a full time missionary I feel so grateful for every second I have to teach this beautiful doctrine :)

Con Amor, Hermana Matheson